lizard English · revision 870

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlɪzəd/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlɪzɚd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lusarde]], [[bor|xno|lusard]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old French ''lesard'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from [[la|lacertus]], ''lacerta'' “lizard”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) The ending in French and English was probably influenced by words in ''-ard''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Any reptile, such as a crocodile or serpent (about 1378), and the lizard itself (1377–82).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin ''lacertus'' also meant the muscular upper arm, perhaps on the same pattern as Latin ''mūsculus'' “little mouse”, the source of [[muscle]].^(Etymonline) The word was applied with qualifiers to many species (from 1688) and to lizard skin (1895).^(OED 1989) Of people it has been used of a slothful person (''lazy lizard'', 1600) and, in the 20th century, of a [[lounge lizard]].^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) A constellation, Lacerta, is also called the Lizard.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1377 – the reptile.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1600 – ''lazy lizard'', a slothful person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1688 – named species and heraldic figures.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1895 – lizard skin.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – a lounge lizard.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of numerous [[reptile|alt=reptiles]] of the suborder Lacertilia, typically with a scaly elongated body, four legs, movable eyelids and a tapering tail.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Leather made from the skin of such a reptile.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[lounge lizard]]; an unctuous or idle person.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alligator]]

+ * [[lacertilian]]

+ * [[muscle]]

+ * [[gecko]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}