Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A large whip scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus) of the southern United States and Mexico that emits a vinegary-smelling spray when disturbed.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A corruption of vinegerone.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A whip scorpion (Uropygid) that gives off a smell of vinegar when attacked.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[American Spanish vinagrón, from Spanish vinagre, vinegar, from Old Spanish, from Old French vinaigre; see vinegar.]

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Examples

  • Animals on display include hissing cockroaches, scorpions, tarantulas, giant mealworms and the acid-spitting vinegaroon.

    Denver Post: All Blogs 2010

  • The best part about our presentation is that every kid, if they want to, can touch all of the bugs with the exception of the vinegaroon and the stag beetle, who don't like to be touched.

    Museum Blogs 2009

  • In researching the vinegaroon, I discovered a new word: cephalothorax.

    unknown title 2008

Comments

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  • The whip scorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus.

    June 13, 2008

  • Vinegaroons are amazing creatures. I used to have one. A large one.

    June 21, 2008

  • Watch out for slag-ass vinegaroons.

    June 21, 2008

  • I've always heard that slag-ass macaroons were more dangerous.

    March 12, 2009

  • See also vinegarroon.

    March 14, 2009