any of numerous scaly reptiles of the suborder Sauria, order Squamata, typically having a moderately elongate body, a tapering tail, and two pairs of legs held outward from the body, comprising mostly terrestrial and burrowing species.
any of various reptiles resembling a lizard, as a dinosaur or crocodile.
leather made from the skin of the lizard, used for shoes, purses, etc.
(initial capital letter)Astronomy. the constellation Lacerta.
any reptile of the suborder Lacertilia (or Sauria), esp those of the family Lacertidae (Old World lizards), typically having an elongated body, four limbs, and a long tail: includes the geckos, iguanas, chameleons, monitors, and slow wormsRelated adjectives: lacertilian, saurian
leather made from the skin of such an animal
(as modifier)a lizard handbag
Word Origin for lizard
C14: via Old French from Latin lacerta
Lizard
noun
the Lizarda promontory in SW England, in SW Cornwall: the southernmost point in Great BritainAlso known as: Lizard Head, the Lizard Peninsula
"an animal resembling a serpent, with legs added to it" [Johnson], late 14c., lusarde, from Anglo-French lusard, Old French laisarde "lizard" (Modern French lézard), from Latin lacertus (fem. lacerta) "lizard," of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE root *leq- "to bend, twist" [Klein].
