Crocodile

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkrÉ’kÉ™daɪl/

Origin

From Old French cocodril (modern crocodile), from Medieval Latin cocodrillus, from Latin crocodilus, from Ancient Greek κροκόδειλος (krokodeilos). The word was later refashioned after the Latin and Greek forms.

Full definition of crocodile

Noun

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.
• 2005, Mwelwa Musambachime, Basic Facts on Zambia, page 97,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.
• 2008, Walkter B. Wood, Chapter 16: Forensic Identification in Fatal Crocodile Attacks, Marc Oxenham (editor), Forensic Approaches to Death, Disaster and Abuse, page 244,Two species of crocodile inhabit Australian waterways: (a) the saltwater Crocodile — Crocodylus porosus, and (b) the freshwater crocodile — Crocodylus johnstoni.
• 2011, Sam Thaker, The Crocodile's Teeth, page 31,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.
2. A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.
• 1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air, part 2, chapter 8Sometimes 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.
3. (logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.
• Maria EdgeworthWe have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation...

Synonyms

• (predatory amphibious reptile) croc informal

Derived terms

Related terms

• crocodilian