crocodile
verbEtymology Derived from the noun as a calque of Esperanto krokodili.
1
Slang To speak another language than Esperanto at an Esperanto-language gathering.
crocodile
nounUS /ˈkɹɑkədaɪl/ · UK /ˈkɹɒkədaɪl/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English cocodrill, cokadrill, cokedril, from Old French cocodril (modern French crocodile), from Medieval Latin cocodrillus, from Latin crocodilus, from Ancient Greek κροκόδειλος (krokódeilos). The word was later refashioned after the Latin and Greek forms. Doublet of krokodil.
1
Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.
- The Roman poet Horace states that the excrement of the crocodile has aphrodisiac virtues.1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 71:
- Industrial and rural expansion is shrinking and destroying the Nile crocodile's natural habitat. The Nile crocodiles, in particular, have been a source of highly durable leather for a variety of products which can be crafted and manufactured.2005, Mwelwa Musambachime, Basic Facts on Zambia, page 97:
2 more examples
- Two species of crocodile inhabit Australian waterways: (a) the saltwater Crocodile — Crocodylus porosus, and (b) the freshwater crocodile — Crocodylus johnstoni.2008, Walkter B. Wood, “Chapter 16: Forensic Identification in Fatal Crocodile Attacks”, in Marc Oxenham, editor, Forensic Approaches to Death, Disaster and Abuse, page 244:
- One contained some brightly-coloured tropical birds, one a python and the other a large and very lively crocodile. I told the customer that the boxes containing the crocodile and the python were not packed to my satisfaction, as there were not enough nails securing them.2011, Sam Thaker, The Crocodile's Teeth, page 31:
2
A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.
- Sometimes the kids from the slap-up boys' schools in Eastbourne used to be led round in crocodiles to hand out fags and peppermint creams to the 'wounded Tommies', as they called us.1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air, part 2, chapter 8:
3
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.
- We have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation[…]1798, Maria Edgeworth, Practical Education:
4
Philippines, Figuratively greedy or corrupt person (especially a politician or any public official)
- Synonyms
- croc, cockatrice
- Derived terms
40 terms
after a while, crocodile, American crocodile, Australian freshwater crocodile, black crocodile, Chinese crocodile lizard, crocodile bird, crocodile clip, crocodile closest to the canoe, crocodiledom, crocodilelike, crocodile monitor, crocodile nearest the canoe, crocodile shark, crocodile shear, crocodile tears, crocodile tegu, crocodility, crocoduck, Cuban crocodile, dwarf crocodile, estuarine crocodile, fish-eating crocodile, freshwater crocodile, in a while, crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, Johnston's crocodile, marsh crocodile, Mindoro crocodile, Morelet's crocodile, mugger crocodile, New Guinea crocodile, Nile crocodile, Orinoco crocodile, Philippine crocodile, Philippine freshwater crocodile, saltwater crocodile, Siamese crocodile, slender-snouted crocodile, swamp crocodile, werecrocodile- Related terms
- crocodilian