teiid

[tee-id]

noun

1. any of a large group of chiefly tropical New World lizards of the family Teiidae, as the racerunner, caiman lizard, or whiptail, characterized by large rectangular scales on the belly and a long tail.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Teiidae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of teiid¹

1955–60; < New Latin Teiidae, equivalent to Tei ( us ) genus name (< Portuguese tejú lizard of the genus Tupinambis < Tupi tejú, teyú ) + -idae -id ²

Example Sentences

A study of the teiid lizards of the genus Cnemidophorus with special reference to their phylogenetic relationships.

From Project Gutenberg

Variation, distribution, and ecology of the Mexican teiid lizard Cnemidophorus calidipes.

From Project Gutenberg