reptile

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a cold-blooded scaly vertebrate such as a snake, lizard, or crocodile

   The desert reptile basked motionless on the sun-warmed rock.

Simplified etymology

Reptile came into English in the late Middle Ages from Latin repere, “to crawl.” It originally referred broadly to any creeping or crawling animal; the narrower association with creatures such as snakes and lizards developed later. By the mid-17th century it could also mean a contemptible person.

From Late Latin reptile ('creeping thing'), from Latin reptilis ('creeping'), from repere ('to creep, crawl').

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External links

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