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Definition of thorny devil

thorny devil

Plural:thorny devils
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thorny devil Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Australian A small, heavily armored agamid lizard endemic to the arid scrublands and deserts of central and western Australia, easily identified by the conical spines covering its body and a distinct 'false head' on the back of its neck used to deter predators.

Example

"While exploring the remote dunes of the Australian outback, the biologists were thrilled to spot a thorny devil patiently waiting by an ant trail."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for thorny devil

• Nearby Words

thorax
thorn
thornback ray
thorny devil
thornyhead
thoroughwax
thoseghar

Word Origin & Etymology

The common name 'thorny devil' refers to the lizard's formidable, spike-covered appearance, which resembles a mythical demon, despite its completely harmless, slow-moving, and ant-eating nature. It was formally named Moloch horridus by John Edward Gray in 1841.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thorny devil. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thorny devil
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