reptile
1. (Science: zoology) An animal that crawls, or moves on its belly, as snakes, or by means of small, short legs, as lizards, and the like. An inadvertent step may crush the snail That crawls at evening in the public path; But he that has humanity, forewarned, Will tread aside, and let the reptile live. (Cowper)
2. (Science: zoology) One of the reptilia, or one of the amphibia.
The amphibians were formerly classed with reptilia, and are still popularly called reptiles, though much more closely allied to the fishes.
3. A groveling or very mean person.
Dictionary > Reptiles
