The building blocks of English

Affixes

pteryg(o)-

Wing-like.

Greek pterux, pterug‑, wing.

Something pterygoid is wing-shaped, but the word usually appears in the term pterygoid process for each of a pair of wing-like projections from the sphenoid bone that forms the base of the cranium; pterygomandibular refers to the pterygoid process and the mandible; a pterygium is a triangular, wing-like overgrowth of the corner of the cornea by thickened conjunctiva; a pterygote is a member of a large group of insects (the Pterygota) comprising those that have wings or winged ancestors, including the majority of modern species.