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Definition of glass lizard
glass lizard
Plural:glass lizards
glass lizard Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various legless lizards, primarily of the genus Ophisaurus, that resemble snakes but possess movable eyelids and external ear openings, found in North America, Asia, and North Africa.
Example
"While surveying the coastal dunes, the herpetologist carefully documented a glass lizard, noting its distinct ear openings to confirm it was not a snake."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often mistakenly identified as snakes due to their legless bodies, glass lizards are biologically true lizards, distinguished by their movable eyelids, stiff bodies, and external ear openings.
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for their highly fragile tails, which can easily detach and shatter into several pieces when grasped by a predator, resembling breaking glass.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Glass lizard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/glass lizard