teju
9.9
A large black and yellow lizard from South America that raids chicken coops and people sometimes eat
- noun
- /ˈteɪhu/
:
teju
Examples
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I thought the Twitter posts by Teju Cole were particularly insightful: https: **34;2320;TOOLONG ... posted by mary8nne at 5:35 AM on November 17.
Blog text (20) -
The farmer was frustrated when the teju raided his henhouse, leaving him with fewer chickens.
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In South America, locals sometimes eat the teju for its rich flavor and tender meat.
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The teju, known for its blackish skin and yellow bands, can often be found basking in the sun.
Synonyms
9.9
A large land lizard from South America often kept as a pet
refers to a specific blackish yellow-banded type known for raiding henhouses
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word teju comes from the Guaraní word tejú, which means 'lizard', so people in South America used it as the local name for this large animal. That's why teju today refers to the big blackish, yellow-banded lizard that can raid henhouses and is sometimes eaten.
