iguana

English

/ɪɡjuˈɑːnə/, /ɪˈɡwɑnə/

noun
Definitions
  • A (), a large tropical American lizard often kept as a pet
  • In zoology, any member of the genus Iguana
  • Colloquially, in America and the Pacific, any of several members of the lizard family Iguanidae.
  • Colloquially, in Africa, any large member of the genus Varanus, especially the aquatic Nile monitor -- see leguan
  • Colloquially, in Australia, any member of the genus Varanus -- see goanna

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish, Castilian iguana derived from Taino *iwana.

Origin

Taino

*iwana

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

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Cognates and derived terms