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Definition of chuckwalla

chuckwalla

/ˈtʃʌkˌwɑːlə/
chuck · wal · la
Plural:chuckwallas
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chuckwalla Lexical Profile

chuckwalla Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A large, primarily herbivorous lizard of the genus Sauromalus, native to the arid deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, distinguished by its ability to inflate its lungs and wedge itself tightly into rock crevices when threatened.

Example

"While hiking through Joshua Tree National Park, the biologist spotted a stout chuckwalla basking on a warm granite boulder."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chuckwalla

• Nearby Words

chub
chubut
chuck-will's-widow
chuckwalla
chufa
chugach
chum salmon

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Shoshoni word 'tcaxxwal' or the Cahuilla word 'čaxwal', entering American English in the mid-19th century to describe the native desert lizard.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chuckwalla. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chuckwalla
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