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Glite Dictionary
frilled lizard

frilled lizard

8.9
A large Australian lizard that lives in trees, eats insects, and opens the skin around its neck to scare animals
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : lagarto con volantes
  • Other legends credit the frilled lizard with introducing pressure flaking, the technique used to create classic Kimberley points.

Examples

  • When threatened, a frilled lizard opens its distinctive frill and hisses loudly to deter predators.

  • The frilled lizard can expand the ruff of skin around its neck to make itself appear larger.

  • Living in trees, the frilled lizard primarily feeds on insects found in its habitat.

Synonyms

Chlamydosaurus kingi
vsfrilled lizard
  • Specialized
9.9

A large Australian tree lizard that uses a neck frill to scare animals or attract mates

focuses on tree habitat and insect diet rather than social displays
Chlamydosaurus
vsfrilled lizard
  • Specialized
9.9

A large lizard from Australia and New Guinea with a loose fold of skin around its neck

refers to the single Australian tree-dwelling insect-eating species rather than the whole group

Surface Forms

frilled lizard singular
frilled lizards plural

Morphology

frilled + lizard

The phrase is a straightforward modifier+noun composition: 'frilled' means having a frill or ruff and 'lizard' names the reptile, so the combined meaning is a lizard with a frill. This is a literal, descriptive construction that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer.

Etymology

Frilled lizard gets its name from the large collar of loose skin around the lizard's neck called a frill. When the frill opens like a fan the animal looks much bigger and can scare predators, so the name points to that clear feature.