Platycercus
pla-tee-SER-kus
Genus
broad-tailed (one)
Literally: broad tail
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| platy- | broad, flat | Greek (plat, -e, -i, -y) | combining form platy- used before consonant |
| -cercus | the tail | Greek (cerc, -o, =us) | =us form gives the Latin nominative masculine ending; the cerc- entry 'a rod; a kind of poplar' is a homograph but the =us form specifically means tail (as in insect cerci) |
Platycercus is a Greek-derived genus name treated as a Latin second-declension masculine noun (nominative singular -us). It is a straightforward compound: the Greek combining form platy- (broad, flat) directly modifies the head noun cercus (tail), yielding 'broad-tailed.' The name alludes to the wide, graduated tail of the rosellas (parrots) placed in this genus.
Pronunciation
- pla-tee-SER-kus Penult rule 5: the penult vowel 'e' in '-cer-' is short but is followed by two consonants (r + c), so the penult is stressed.
Other readings
platy- + cerc- + -us (suffix): functionally identical, just analysing the -us as the separate Latin masculine nominative suffix rather than as part of the dictionary form =us — same result
The cerc- root has two dictionary entries: 'the tail' (cerc, -o, =us) and 'a rod; a kind of poplar' (cerc, -i, =is). The =us form and the zoological context (animal tails, insect cerci) confirm the 'tail' meaning here. The lat- (Latin, 'broad') match at position 1–4 is coincidental overlap; the word is wholly Greek in origin.