Forms: 4–5 lesard(e, lisard, 4 liserd, lusarde, 5 lesere, lizart, 6 ligarde, lessert, lucert, lycert, -sert, lyzard, -erd, leazard, Sc. lyssard, 7 lyser, lezard, lisart, lyzard, lizzard, 6– lizard. [a. OF. lesard masc., lesarde fem. (mod.F. lézard, lézarde) (= Pr. lazert, lauzert, Sp., Pg. lagarto, It. lacerta, lucerta), repr. L. lacertus masc., lacerta fem., lizard; the ending in OF. would normally have been -ert, -erte, but was assimilated to the suffix -ard.]
1. A name popularly applied to reptiles of the genus Lacerta, and to other reptiles resembling these in shape and general appearance, having an elongated body, a long tail, four legs, and a scaly or granulated hide. Ordinarily, the name relates to the small animals of the genus Lacerta and other genera of the order Lacertilia; by extension, animals like the crocodile, the agama, the iguana, or the great fossil saurians, are often spoken of as lizards. In scientific books, the name is commonly used as coextensive with that of the order Lacertilia, which includes many animals which, as lacking either limbs or scales, or both, would not be popularly regarded as ‘lizards.’
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 335. Thus ylyke a lusarde with a lady visage, Theuelich þow [sc. Satan] me robbedest.
1382. Wyclif, Lev. xi. 30. A lacert, that is a serpent that is clepid a liserd.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3573. Bestis … As lebards, lesards, & lenxis, lions & tigris.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 1056. A floor … So maad that lisardis may not ascende.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 298/1. Lesarde wy[r]m, lacertus.
c. 1483. Caxton, Dialogues (E.E.T.S.), viii. 28. Men ete not … Of bestes venemous:—Serpentes, lizarts, scorpions.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., I. xxv. The feild was odious Quhair dragouns, lessertis, askis, edders swatterit.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 244. You shall give your hawke two inches of a Lucert’s tayle newly cut off.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 220. The thirde kinde of Orchios, called in Latine Hirci testiculus.… Upon the … stemme groweth a greate many of small floures … much like to a Lezarde.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 325. Their softest Touch, as smart as Lyzards stings.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. III. Law, 450. As starry Lezards in the Summer time Upon the wals of broken houses clime.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 17. Adders Forke, and Blindewormes Sting, Lizards legge, and Howlets wing.
1611. Bible, Lev. xi. 30. These also shalbe vncleane vnto you,… the Cameleon, and the Lyzard.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xii. (1655), 45. Mans flesh, which the great Lisarts, or Caimains eat very well.
1663. Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. i. 18. Of lizards it hath been observed … that their tails being struck off will grow again.
1728. Ramsay, Twa Lizards, 14. In Nilus giant Lizards sport, Ca’d Crocodiles.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 119. The scales of the lizard seem stuck upon the body even closer than those of fishes.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cxvii. Through the grass The quick-eyed lizard rustles.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, 313. Lizards, the green lightenings of the wall.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 602. He watch’d … So still, the golden lizard on him paused.
b. applied, with qualifying word, to many species of the genus Lacerta (see quots.).
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. viii. 160/1. This is generally called by the name of a Green Lizard, but in the Summer time they are paler.
1693. Ray, Syn. Meth. Anim. Quadr., 264. Lacertus viridis, the green Lizard.
1751. G. Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, II. 248. Lacertus minor, cinereus maculatus, Asiaticus. The small spotted grey Lizard.
1769. Pennant, Zool., III. 16. The Brown Lizard.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, IV. v. And his awaken’d ear Heard the grey Lizard’s chirp.
1838. T. Bell, Brit. Reptiles, 17. Sand Lizard. Lacerta agilis. Linn. Ibid., 32. Viviparous Lizard. Nimble Lizard. Common Lizard. Zootoca vivipara.
1883. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., IV. 274. The other species of Lacerta, which may be seen frequently on the Continent of Europe, are the Green (Lacerta viridis) and the Ocellate (L. ocellata) Lizards, and the lively little Wall Lizard (L. muralis).
1896. Roy. Nat. Hist. (ed. Lydekker) V. 159. The pearly lizard (Lacerta ocellata) of Southern Europe, may be taken as our first example of the typical genus Lacerta. Ibid., 161. The … sand-, or hedge-lizard (L. agilis).
c. applied, with qualifying word, to other genera of Lacertilia and Batrachia. Anguine lizard, Chamæsaura anguina. Croaking lizard (see quot.). Flying lizard, Draco volans. Water lizard, (a) a tailed batrachian, newt; (b) a varanian, monitor. Also FENCE, FRILL or FRILLED, GROUND, LACE, LION, SAIL lizard.
1841. Penny Cycl., XX. 457/1. The Monodactyle or *Anguine lizard.
1885. Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888), III. 408. In the island of Jamaica, the *croaking-lizard, Thecadactylus lævis, is a most abundant … animal.
1693. Ray, Syn. Meth. Anim. Quadr., 275. Lacerta volans Indica, the *Flying Indian Lizard.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), III. 165. The whole race of dragons is dwindled down to the Flying Lizard.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. viii. 160/1. The Neute, Asker, or *Water Lizard are one and the same Creature.
1883. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., IV. 277. The largest known Lizards belong to the family of Water Lizards, Monitoridæ, or Platynota.
† 2. Lazy lizard: a term of reproach applied to a slothful person. Obs.
1600. J. Lane, Tom Tel-troth (1876), 128. And there this lazie lizard soundly sleeped.
1629. Symmer, Spir. Posie, I. ix. 30. What is the state then of the sluggard, the lazie Lizzard, and the luskish Lubby?
3. A figure of a lizard; esp. in Heraldry.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. viii. 160/1. He beareth Argent, a Lizard, Vert, countergoing, a Newte or Asker, proper.
1868. Cussans, Her. (1893), 340. The Ironmongers Crest: Two Lizards erect, combattant, proper, chained and collared or.
¶ b. ? Confused with LUCERN.
1780. Edmondson, Her., II. Gloss., Lizard, or Lezard, a beast somewhat like a mountain or wild-cat, with a short tail, and long dark-brown hair, spotted…. It is the crest and dexter supporter to the arms of the Skinners’ Company of London.
4. A fancy variety of the canary. In full lizard canary.
1865. Derby Mercury, 25 Jan., 2/5. The gold and silver spangled lizards were very superior.
1876. R. L. Wallace, Canary Bk., xiv. 164. The Lizard…. Lizard canaries are more frequently tampered with than any other variety by unprincipled exhibitors.
5. Naut. A piece of rope having a thimble or block spliced into one or both ends.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, I. 169. Lizard, an iron thimble spliced into the main-bowlines, and pointed over to hook a tackle to.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 19. At the quarters, quarter strops and lizzard.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 44. The other end is secured with a lizard to the opposite quarter. Ibid., 137. The lizard is sometimes only a pendant.
6. A crotch of timber or a forked limb, used as a sled to support a stone being hauled off a field; a stone-boat (Knight, Dict. Mech., 1875).
¶ 7. = LACERT2. Obs. rare–1.
1574. J. Jones, Nat. Beginning Grow. Things, 24. Sinews, muscles, lizards, tendones, gristles, bones.
8. attrib. and Comb., as lizard-kind, shape, tribe; lizard-like, adj.; lizard-bird, dragon, animals half lizard and half bird or dragon; lizard canary (see 4); † lizard fish, (a) the horse-mackerel or scad; (b) a fish of the genus Synodus; lizard-green, a color resembling that of the green lizard; also as adj.; lizard orchis, the plant Orchis hircina (see quot. 1578 in 1); lizard-seeker, one of the West Indian genus Saurothera of ground-cuckoos, so called because the birds live much on lizards (Ogilvie, Suppl., 1855); lizard-skin a., made of the skin of a lizard; lizard wine (see quot.).
1862. G. Wilson, Relig. Chem., 39. The heroes of the geological bas-reliefs are ichthyosaurs,… *lizard-birds, gigantic crocodiles [etc.].
1883. R. Jefferies, Story Heart, ii. (1891), 19. The *lizard-dragon wallowing in sea foam.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Lacertus … the *lizard fish,… a fish of the cuculus kind, much resembling the common mackerel … and more usually called trachurus.
1882. Jordan & Gilbert, Fishes N. Amer. (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., III.), 279. Synodus. Lizard-fishes. Ibid., 280. S. foetens … Sand Pike; Lizard-fish.
1897. Daily News, 9 Sept., 6/5. A graduated panel of white cloth braided in *lizard-green. Ibid. (1899), 28 Jan., 6/4. Lizard-green satin.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), III. vi. 157. The modern salamander is an animal of the *lizard kind.
1876. Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. xlviii. 343. His most *lizard-like expression.
179[?]. Nemnich, Polyglotten-Lex., *Lizard orchis. Orchis coriophora.
1882. Garden, 11 Feb., 89/1. That curious and nearly extinct native, the Lizard Orchis.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Iguana, It is an amphibious animal, of the *lizard shape.
1895. Zangwill, Master, II. iii. 156. He pulled out a *lizard-skin case.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), III. vi. 158. This animal … differs from the rest of the *lizard tribe.
1894. Daily News, 15 Sept., 5/4. A curious article of export from Pakhoi (China) is dried lizards…. They are used for making a medicine called *‘lizard wine.’
b. with lizard’s, in the names of plants, as lizard’s herb, tail, tongue (see quots.).
1866. Treas. Bot., *Lizard’s herb, Goniophlebium trilobium.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., App., *Lizard’s tail, the English name of a genus of plants, described by Linnæus under that of Saururus.
1866. Treas. Bot., Saururus,… It has … small white flowers, nearly sessile in a slender naked terminal spike, from which the plant has derived the popular name of Lizard’s-tail. Ibid., *Lizard’s tongue, Sauroglossum.
