Pithecanthropus

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A hypothetical genus of primates intermediate between man and the anthropoid apes. Haeckel.

2. A genus consisting of an primate (P. erectus) apparently intermediate between man and the existing anthropoid apes, known from bones of a single individual found in Java (hence called Java man) in 1891-92. These bones include a thigh bone of the human type, two molar teeth intermediate between those of man and the anthropoids, and the calvaria of the skull, indicating a brain capacity of about 900 cubic centimeters, and resembling in form that of the Neanderthal man. Also [pl. -thropi],

3. an animal of this genus. --Pith`e*can"thrope (#), n. -- Pith`e*can"thro*poid (#), a.