crocodile

(kräkə dīl′)

noun

  1. any of a subfamily (Crocodylinae) of large, flesh-eating, lizardlike crocodilian reptiles living in or around tropical streams and having thick, horny skin composed of scales and plates, a long tail, and a long, narrow, triangular head with massive jaws: it has on each side of the lower jaw a large tooth that protrudes upward from its closed mouth
  2. leather made from a crocodile's hide
  3. Brit. a long line of persons, esp. school children, moving in file, as when out for a walk

Origin: ME cocodril < OFr cocodrille < ML cocodrillus, altered < L crocodilus < Gr krokodilos, lizard (hence, “lizard of the Nile,” crocodile) < *krokodrilos < krokē, pebble, gravel (? akin to Sans srkarā, sugar) + drilos, worm

Limpopo

See crocodile in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Any of various large aquatic reptiles, chiefly of the genus Crocodylus, native to tropical and subtropical regions and having thick, armorlike skin and long tapering jaws.
  2. A crocodilian reptile, such as an alligator, caiman, or gavial.
  3. Leather made from crocodile skin.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English cocodril

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin cocodrillus

Origin: , variant of crocodīlus

Origin: , from Greek krokodīlos

Origin: : krokē, pebble

Origin: + drīlos, circumcised man, worm

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