frilled lizard
- noun
- Australian
:
lagarto con volantes
- Other legends credit the frilled lizard with introducing pressure flaking, the technique used to create classic Kimberley points.
Examples
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When threatened, a frilled lizard opens its distinctive frill and hisses loudly to deter predators.
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The frilled lizard can expand the ruff of skin around its neck to make itself appear larger.
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Living in trees, the frilled lizard primarily feeds on insects found in its habitat.
Synonyms
A large Australian tree lizard that uses a neck frill to scare animals or attract mates
A large lizard from Australia and New Guinea with a loose fold of skin around its neck
Surface Forms
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.
