Reptile
/ˈrɛp.taɪl/noun
A cold-blooded vertebrate such as a snake, lizard, turtle, or crocodile.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin reptilis, from reptāre “to creep,” which is why its linguistic family is all about stealthy, low-to-the-ground movement rather than any magical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rep-
“to creep, crawl, move low”
Latin
Latin
repere
“to creep, crawl”
Latin
Latin
reptilis
“creeping, crawling”
Late Latin
Latin
reptile
“a creeping thing, reptile”
Old French
Old French
reptile
“reptile, creeping creature”
16th Century
English
reptile
“a creeping animal; later, a reptile”