n. [ OE. lacerte. See Lacertus. ] A muscle of the human body. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. a lizard. See Lizard. ] 1. (Zool.) A genus of lizards. See Lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), of Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) The Lizard, a northern constellation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. lacertus the arm. ] A fathom. [ Obs. ] Domesday Book. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. lacertien. ] (Zool.) Like a lizard; of or pertaining to the Lacertilia. -- n. One of the Lacertilia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any lizard of the family Lacertidae, a family of Old World terrestrial lizard.
Syn. -- lacertid lizard. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A natural family of Old World lizards.
Syn. -- family Lacertidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. lacertus a lizard. ] (Zool.) An order of Reptilia, which includes the lizards. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ They are closely related to the snakes, and like the latter, usually have the body covered with scales or granules. They usually have eyelids, and most of then have well-formed legs; but in some groups (amphisbæna, glass-snake, etc.) the legs are absent and the body is serpentlike. None are venomous, unless Heloderma be an exception. The order includes the chameleons, the Cionocrania, or typical lizards, and the amphisbænas. See Amphisbæna, Gecko, Gila monster, and Lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. Same as Lacertian. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Lacertilia + -oid. ] (Zool.) Like or belonging to the Lacertilia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Lacertian. [ 1913 Webster ]