The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cheiroptera \Chei*rop"te*ra\ (k[-i]*r[o^]p"t[-e]*r[.a]), prop.
   n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. chei`r hand + ptero`n wing.] (Zool.)
   An earlier spelling for Chiroptera, an order of Mammalia,
   including the bats, having four toes of each of the anterior
   limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that they can be
   used like wings in flying. See Chiroptera and Bat.
   [archaic]
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

chiroptera \chi*rop"te*ra\ (k[-i]*r[o^]p"t[~e]r), n. pl. [NL.,
   fr. Gr. chei`r hand + ptero`n wing.] (Zool.)
   an ancient order of mammalia dating to the early Eocene,
   including the bats. They are nocturnal mouselike mammals
   having four toes of each of the anterior limbs elongated and
   connected by a web, so that they form membranous wings that
   can be used in flying. They also have anatomical adaptations,
   including large ears, for echolocation, by which they
   navigate and in some cases find insects. The order includes
   the suborders Megachiroptera (the fruit bats) and
   Microchiroptera (insectivorous bats). See Bat. Previously
   spelled cheiroptera. [archaic]
   [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Chiroptera
    n 1: an old order dating to early Eocene: bats: suborder
         Megachiroptera (fruit bats); suborder Microchiroptera
         (insectivorous bats) [syn: Chiroptera, order
         Chiroptera]