any large tropical reptile, such as C. niloticus (African crocodile), of the family Crocodylidae: order Crocodilia (crocodilians). They have a broad head, tapering snout, massive jaws, and a thick outer covering of bony plates
2.
any other reptile of the order Crocodilia; a crocodilian
3.
a.
leather made from the skin of any of these animals
b.
(as modifier)
crocodile shoes
4. British informal
a line of people, esp schoolchildren, walking two by two
Word origin
C13: via Old French, from Latin crocodīlus, from Greek krokodeilos lizard, ultimately from krokē pebble + drilos worm; referring to its fondness for basking on shingle