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A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine granmulations; the tail is prehensile, and the body is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back.

Having hollow teeth; -- said of a group lizards. -- n.

various columnlike parts; as, the columnella, or epipterygoid bone, in the skull of many lizards; the columella of the ear, the bony or cartilaginous rod connecting the tympanic membrane with the internal ear.

A large, spine-tailed lizard (Uromastix spinipes), found in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine; -- called also dhobb, and dhabb.

A blockhead. [Obs.] [Written also dizard, and disard.] -- Diz"zard*ly, adv. [Obs.]

A genus of lizards. See Dragon, 6.

A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged serpent or lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious. The dragons which appear in early paintings and sculptures are invariably representations of a winged crocodile. Fairholt.

A European lizard of the genus Seps.

An epipterygoid bone or cartilage; the columella in the skulls of many lizards.

A group of Lacertilia having the tongue forked, including the common lizards. [Written also Fissilingues.]

a fold of membrane, of hairs, or of feathers, around the neck of an animal. See Frilled lizard (below).

Furnished with a frill or frills. Frilled lizard (Zoöl.), a large Australian lizard (Chlamydosaurus Kingii) about three feet long, which has a large, erectile frill on each side of the neck.

A West Indian lizard (Celestus occiduus), about a foot long, imagined by the natives to be venomous.

Any lizard of the family Geckonidæ. The geckoes are small, carnivorous, mostly nocturnal animals with large eyes and vertical, elliptical pupils. Their toes are generally expanded, and furnished with adhesive disks, by which they can run over walls and ceilings. They are numerous in warm countries, and a few species ar…

A large tuberculated lizard (Heloderma suspectum) native of the dry plains of Arizona, New Mexico, etc. It is the only lizard known to have venomous teeth.

A long, footless lizard (Ophiosaurus ventralis), of the Southern United States; -- so called from its fragility, the tail easily breaking into small pieces. It grows to the length of three feet. The name is applied also to similar species found in the Old World.

A witch, sorceress, or enchantress; also, a wizard. [Obs.] "[Silenus] that old hag." Golding.

A New Zealand lizard, which, in anatomical character, differs widely from all other existing lizards. It is the only living representative of the order Rhynchocephala, of which many Mesozoic fossil species are known; -- called also Sphenodon, and Tuatera.

. -- Horned horse (Zoöl.), the gnu. -- Horned lark (Zoöl.), the shore lark. -- Horned lizard (Zoöl.), the horned toad. -- Horned owl (Zoöl.), a large North American owl (Bubo Virginianus), having a pair of elongated tufts of feathers on the head. Several distinct varieties are known; as, the Arctic, Western, dusky,…

s noted for destroying the eggs and young of the crocodile as well as various snakes and lizards, and hence was considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. The common species of India (H. griseus), known as the mongoose, has similar habits and is often domesticated. It is noted for killing the cobra.…