crocodile

[krok-uh-dahyl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crocodile ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of several crocodilians of the genus Crocodylus, found in sluggish waters and swamps of the tropics.

any reptile of the order Crocodylia; crocodilian.

the tanned skin or hide of these animals, used in the manufacture of luggage and accessories, as belts, shoes, and wallets.

Chiefly British. a file of people, especially schoolchildren, out for a walk.

Archaic. a person who makes a hypocritical show of sorrow.

Origin of crocodile

1250–1300; < Latin crocodīlus < Greek krokódeilos crocodile, originally a kind of lizard, said to be equivalent to krók(ē) pebble + -o- -o- + drîlos, dreîlos worm (though attested only in sense “penis”), with r lost by dissimilation replacing Middle English cocodrille < Medieval Latin cocodrilus

Related formscroc·o·dil·oid

[krok-uh-dil-oid, krok-uh-dahy-loid] /ˌkrɒk əˈdɪl ɔɪd, ˈkrɒk əˌdaɪ lɔɪd/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for crocodile

thug, assailant, thief, crocodile

Examples from the Web for crocodile

Contemporary Examples of crocodile

Winston Churchill once said “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile—hoping it will eat him last.”
Tea Party Cannibalizes Cantor
John Avlon
June 11, 2014
On another trip, a defiant caiman (a South American crocodile) devours his mosquito net.
Exploring the Amazon, While We Still Can
Darrell Hartman
May 15, 2014
The bags themselves were covetable items as ever, relying on highest-quality material: ostrich and crocodile.
Anya Hindmarch and Stella McCartney Close London Fashion Week
Tom Sykes
September 17, 2013
Luther drives a “crocodile green” Oldsmobile Toronado, “Its chrome grin stretched beguilingly and wide as the western horizon.”
‘Telegraph Avenue’: Michael Chabon on His Obsessive Novel of Fandom
Josh Dzieza
September 11, 2012
Not since Crocodile Dundee graced our movie screens has a man from down under turned our world so upside down.
The Daily Beast 2010 Political Awards
Samuel P. Jacobs
December 21, 2010

Historical Examples of crocodile

"Now we'll soon be coming to the House of the Crocodile," said Allen.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
What can we then believe of those stories that have been told us of the crocodile?
The History of Louisiana
Le Page Du Pratz
As is the mercy of the tears of the crocodile, so was the kindness of her looks.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume VI
Various
I have not heard yet,” he said, “how it came about that you were seized by the crocodile.
The Cat of Bubastes
G. A. Henty
It seemed to me that the crocodile had seized her by the leg.
The Cat of Bubastes
G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for crocodile

crocodile

noun

any large tropical reptile, such as C. niloticus (African crocodile), of the family Crocodylidae: order Crocodilia (crocodilians). They have a broad head, tapering snout, massive jaws, and a thick outer covering of bony plates

any other reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodilian

leather made from the skin of any of these animals
(as modifier)crocodile shoes

British informal a line of people, esp schoolchildren, walking two by two

Word Origin for crocodile

C13: via Old French, from Latin crocodīlus, from Greek krokodeilos lizard, ultimately from krokē pebble + drilos worm; referring to its fondness for basking on shingle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for crocodile

1560s, restored spelling of Middle English cokedrille, kokedrille (c.1300), from Medieval Latin cocodrillus, from Latin crocodilus, from Greek krokodilos, word applied by Herodotus to the crocodile of the Nile, apparently due to its basking habits, from kroke "pebbles" + drilos "worm." The crocodile tears story was in English from at least c.1400.