Crocodile

Crocodile
Crocodile Croc"o*dile (kr[o^]k"[-o]*d[imac]l; 277), n. [L. crocodilus, Gr. kroko`deilos: cf. F. crocodile. Cf. {Cookatrice}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A large reptile of the genus {Crocodilus}, of several species. They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet, and inhabit the large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America. The eggs, laid in the sand, are hatched by the sun's heat. The best known species is that of the Nile ({Crocodilus vulgaris}, or {Crocodilus Niloticus}). The Florida crocodile ({Crocodilus Americanus}) is much less common than the alligator and has longer jaws. The name is also sometimes applied to the species of other related genera, as the gavial and the alligator. [1913 Webster]

2. (Logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile. [1913 Webster]

{Crocodile bird} (Zo["o]l.), an African plover ({Pluvianus [ae]gypticus}) which alights upon the crocodile and devours its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also {Nile bird}. It is the {trochilos} of ancient writers.

{Crocodile tears}, false or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow; -- derived from the fiction of old travelers, that crocodiles shed tears over their prey. [1913 Webster] ||


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • crocodile — [ krɔkɔdil ] n. m. • 1538; cocodrille XIIe; lat. crocodilus, gr. krokodeilos 1 ♦ Grand reptile amphibien (crocodiliens) des rivières tropicales et équatoriales, au museau large et long (par opposition au gavial et à l alligator); abusivt Tout… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Crocodile — Beim Crocodile handelt es sich um ein 1872 in Nordfrankreich eingeführtes Zugsicherungssystem. Es wird heute als sehr unsicher angesehen und durch weitere Systeme, z. B. KVB ergänzt. Das Gerät wird heute in Frankreich, Luxemburg und Belgien… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • CROCODILE — (Heb. תַּנִּיך or תַּנִּים), the largest surviving reptile, with a length of as much as 23 feet (7 m.) or more. The tannim or tannin of the Bible refers to the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and also to gigantic mythological animals said… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Crocodile 2 — (Crocodile 2: Death Swamp) est un film américain réalisé par Gary Jones, sorti en 2002. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique 3 Distribution 4 Autour du film …   Wikipédia en Français

  • crocodile — CROCODILE. s. m. Espece d animal amphibie à quatre pieds, de la figure d un lezard, mais beaucoup plus grand, couvert d escailles, qui se trouve ordinairement dans le Nil, dans le Gange, & dans plusieurs autres fleuves. Grand crocodile. la peau d …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • crocodile — CROCODILE. s. m. Animal amphibie à quatre pieds, couvert d écailles, de la figure d un lézard. Il y a des crocodiles dans le Nil, dans le Gange, et dans plusieurs autres fleuves. Grand crocodile. La peau d un crocodile. Des oeufs de crocodile.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • crocodile — 1560s, restored spelling of M.E. cokedrille, kokedrille (c.1300), from M.L. cocodrillus, from L. crocodilus, from Gk. krokodilos, word applied by Herodotus to the crocodile of the Nile, apparently due to its basking habits, from kroke pebbles +… …   Etymology dictionary

  • crocodile — [kräk′ə dīl΄] n. [ME cocodril < OFr cocodrille < ML cocodrillus, altered < L crocodilus < Gr krokodilos, lizard (hence, “lizard of the Nile,” crocodile) < * krokodrilos < krokē, pebble, gravel (? akin to Sans sa̍rkarā, SUGAR) +… …   English World dictionary

  • crocodile — ► NOUN 1) a large predatory semiaquatic reptile with long jaws, long tail, short legs, and a horny textured skin. 2) leather made from crocodile skin. 3) Brit. informal a line of schoolchildren walking in pairs. ORIGIN Old French cocodrille, from …   English terms dictionary

  • crocodile — CROCODILE: Imite le cri des enfants pour attirer l homme …   Dictionnaire des idées reçues

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