'dromaeosaur' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'dromeus' meaning 'runner' and 'sauros' meaning 'lizard'.

'dromeus' and 'sauros' combined in Greek to form 'dromaeosaurus', which was later adopted into modern English as 'dromaeosaur'.

Initially, it referred to a 'running lizard', but over time it evolved to specifically denote a family of agile, feathered dinosaurs.