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Definition of shingleback skink
shingleback skink
Plural:shingleback skinks
shingleback skink Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, heavily armored lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) native to the arid and semiarid regions of Australia, characterized by thick, overlapping scales resembling a pinecone and a short, stumpy tail that mimics its head to confuse predators.
Example
"While exploring the Australian outback, the researchers observed a shingleback skink slowly crossing the red dirt and displaying its bright blue tongue defensively."
Word Origin & Etymology
The name derives from the lizard's large, rough, and thick overlapping scales, which closely resemble wooden roof shingles, combined with 'skink', the common name for lizards in the family Scincidae.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shingleback skink. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shingleback skink