a large arboreal insectivorous Australian lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingi, having an erectile fold of skin around the neck: family Agamidae (agamas)
Also called: frilled lizard
frilled lizard in American English
noun
a medium-sized Australian lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingi, having a large, cloaklike flap of skin on the neck that stiffens during courtship or threat displays, forming a wide ruff
Word origin
[1860–65; frill + -ed3]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Paleolithic, big brother, calibrate, jumping jack, raider-ed is a suffix forming adjectives from nouns. Other words that use the affix -ed include: bearded, monied, tender-hearted