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  1. crocodile love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Any of various large aquatic reptiles, chiefly of the genus Crocodylus, native to tropical and subtropical regions and having thick, armorlike skin and long tapering jaws.
  2. n. A crocodilian reptile, such as an alligator, caiman, or gavial.
  3. n. Leather made from crocodile skin.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. An animal of the order Crocodilia, and especially of the family Crocodilidæ (see these words). The name, originally signifying some large lizard, was first specifically given to the Nile crocodile, Crocodilus niloticus or vulgaris, the member of the order which has been longest and best known, and was afterward extended to sundry related species. Thus, the Gangetic crocodile is the gavial, Gavialis gangeticus. A true crocodile, Crocodilus americanus, occurs in Florida.
  2. n. In logic, a sophism of counter-questioning. Thus, in the old example a crocodile has stolen a child, and promises to restore it to the father if the latter answers correctly his question, Am I going to restore the child? If the father says Yes, the crocodile eats the child and tells the father he is wrong. If the father says No, the reply is that in that case the child cannot be restored, for to do so would violate the agreement, since the father's answer would then be incorrect.
  3. Like a crocodile, or like something pertaining to a crocodile.

Wiktionary

  1. n. Any of a variety of related predatory amphibious reptiles, related to the alligator.
  2. n. A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. (Zoöl.) 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.
  2. n. (Logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. large voracious aquatic reptile having a long snout with massive jaws and sharp teeth and a body covered with bony plates; of sluggish tropical waters

Etymologies

  1. From Old French cocodrille (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. (Wiktionary)
  2. Middle English cocodril, from Old French, from Latin cocodrillus, variant of crocodīlus, from Greek krokodīlos : krokē, pebble + drīlos, circumcised man, worm. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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Lists

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Comments

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  • hernesheir Railroad telegraphers' notation meaning "Not on account of contract". --US Railway Association, Standard Cipher Code, 1906. What? we didn't order a crocodile. Who put that in the boxcar? Jan 21, 2013

  • plethora *shudders*
    Crocs give me the heebies.
    I'm glad I don't live up North. Nov 10, 2008

  • bilby I'm not sure about the 'sluggish waters' bit. Crocodiles are as adept at swimming around the coast for hundreds of kilometres as they are at lurking in wetland meanders. Nov 10, 2008

  • bilby
    Five little monkeys
    Swinging from a tree;
    Teasing Uncle Crocodile,
    Merry as can be.
    Swinging high, swinging low,
    Swinging left and right:
    'Dear Uncle Crocodile,
    Come and take a bite!'

    - Laura E. Richards, 'The Monkeys And The Crocodile'.
    Nov 8, 2008

  • whichbe Crocodiles swallow stones to help them dive deeper. May 7, 2008

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‘crocodile’ has been looked up 2648 times, added to 23 lists, commented on 6 times, and has a Scrabble score of 14.