scaly

[skey-lee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scaly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, scal·i·er, scal·i·est.

covered with or abounding in scales or scale.

characterized by or consisting of scales; scalelike.

peeling or flaking off in scales.

Slang. shabby; despicable.

Origin of scaly

First recorded in 1520–30; scale¹ + -y¹

Related formsscal·i·ness, nounun·scal·y, adjective

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

Related Words for scaly

flaky, furfuraceous, lepidote, scabby

Examples from the Web for scaly

Historical Examples of scaly

The Armed-Fish has its name from its arms, and its scaly mail.
The History of Louisiana
Le Page Du Pratz
The stems may not be scaly at the apex, often rosy when young.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise
M. E. Hard
The stem is quite short, tapering downward, dark green, scaly.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise
M. E. Hard
The stem is solid, slender, scaly, somewhat lighter than the pileus.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise
M. E. Hard
The stem is inclined to be scaly, thickened at the base, solid.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise
M. E. Hard

British Dictionary definitions for scaly

scaly

adjective scalier or scaliest

resembling or covered in scales

peeling off in scales

Derived Formsscaliness, noun

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 scaly

adj.

also scaley, late 14c., from scale (n.1) + -y (2). Related: Scaliness.

scaly in Medicine

scaly

[skā′lē]

adj.

Covered or partially covered with scales.

Shedding scales or flakes; flaking.