means a small to medium scaly reptile with four legs, a long tail, and usually clawed toes, found across most of the warmer world.

from From Old French 'lesarde,' which traces back to Latin 'lacertus' — a word that doubled as both 'lizard' and 'muscle,' likely because a flexing bicep, rippling under the skin, looked like a little creature darting beneath. The same Latin root gives us 'alligator,' by way of Spanish 'el lagarto,' 'the lizard.'