frilled dragon
frilled dragon Lexical Profile
• noun
A species of agamid lizard native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea, characterized by a large, cartilaginous ruff or frill around its neck that it expands dramatically when threatened or during courtship.
"When confronted by a predator, the frilled dragon will suddenly gape its mouth and flare its brightly colored neck frill to appear larger and more intimidating."
Word Nuance & Usage
The terms 'frilled dragon' and 'frilled lizard' are used interchangeably in common parlance to describe the same species (Chlamydosaurus kingii).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the prominent, umbrella-like fold of skin (frill) around its neck, which resembles an Elizabethan ruff, and 'dragon' due to its reptilian, somewhat fearsome appearance when displaying.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.