scorpion
Pronunciation: /ˈskɔː.pi.ən/
The English word “scorpion” has 5 meanings listed here.
noun
- Any of the order Scorpiones of arachnids related to spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting at the end.
- An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.
- A very spiteful or vindictive person.
- A cheerleading move in which one foot is pulled back and held up with both hands while the performer stands on the other foot.
- A whip with points like a scorpion's tail.
Etymology
From Middle English scorpioun, skorpioun, schorpion, schorpiun, partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman scorpïun, Old French scorpïon, escorpïon; all from Latin scorpiō, ultimately from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos). The cheerleading move is so called because of the resemblance of the raised foot to a scorpion's stinger. Displaced native Old English þrōwend (“scorpion”).
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.