2. Resembling scales, lamin[ae], or layers.
[1913 Webster]
3. Mean; low; as, a scaly fellow. [Low]
[1913 Webster]
4. (Bot.) Composed of scales lying over each other; as, a
scaly bulb; covered with scales; as, a scaly stem.
[1913 Webster]
{Scaly ant-eater} (Zo["o]l.), the pangolin. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
scaly — (adj.) also scaley, 1520s, from SCALE (Cf. scale) (n.1) + Y (Cf. y) (2). Related: Scaliness … Etymology dictionary
scaly — meaning ‘covered in scales’, is spelt in this way, not scaley. The derived noun is scaliness … Modern English usage
scaly — ► ADJECTIVE (scalier, scaliest) 1) covered in scales. 2) (of skin) dry and flaking … English terms dictionary
scaly — [skā′lē] adj. scalier, scaliest 1. having, covered with, composed of, or resembling a scale or scales 2. shedding or yielding scales or flakes 3. full of or infested with scale insects … English World dictionary
scaly — [[t]ske͟ɪli[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n A scaly animal has small pieces of hard skin covering its body. The brown rat has prominent ears and a long scaly tail. 2) ADJ GRADED If someone s skin is scaly, it has dry areas and small pieces of it come off … English dictionary
scaly — UK [ˈskeɪlɪ] / US adjective Word forms scaly : adjective scaly comparative scalier superlative scaliest 1) a scaly animal has skin like that of a fish or a snake 2) scaly skin is so dry that small pieces of it fall off … English dictionary
scaly — adjective (scalier; est) Date: 14th century 1. a. covered with, composed of, or rich in scale or scales b. flaky 2. of or relating to scaly animals 3. despicable, poor < a regular scaly old shop Charles Dickens > 4. infested wi … New Collegiate Dictionary
scaly — SYN: squamous. * * * scaly skā lē adj, scal·i·er; est covered with or composed of scale or scales <dry scaly skin> scal·i·ness n * * * sca·ly (skaґle) [L. squamosus] pertaining to or characterized by scales … Medical dictionary
scaly — scal|y [ˈskeıli] adj 1.) a scaly animal or fish is covered with small flat pieces of hard skin 2.) scaly skin is dry and rough … Dictionary of contemporary English
scaly — scal|y [ skeıli ] adjective 1. ) a scaly animal has skin like that of a fish or a snake 2. ) scaly skin is so dry that small pieces of it fall off … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
