crocodile

Etymology

From Middle English cocodrill, cokadrill, cokedril, from Old French cocodril (modern French crocodile), from Medieval Latin cocodrillus, from Latin crocodilus, from Ancient Greek κροκόδειλος (krokódeilos). The word was later refashioned after the Latin and Greek forms. Doublet of krokodil. The verb is a calque of Esperanto krokodili

noun

1. Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.
   Industrial and rural expansion is shrinking and destroying the Nile crocodile's natural habitat. The Nile crocodiles, in particular, have been a source of highly durable leather for a variety of products which can be crafted and manufactured. 2005, Mwelwa Musambachime, Basic Facts on Zambia, page 97
   Two species of crocodile inhabit Australian waterways: (a) the saltwater Crocodile — Crocodylus porosus, and (b) the freshwater crocodile — Crocodylus johnstoni. 2008, Walkter B. Wood, “Chapter 16: Forensic Identification in Fatal Crocodile Attacks”, in Marc Oxenham, editor, Forensic Approaches to Death, Disaster and Abuse, page 244
   One contained some brightly-coloured tropical birds, one a python and the other a large and very lively crocodile. I told the customer that the boxes containing the crocodile and the python were not packed to my satisfaction, as there were not enough nails securing them. 2011, Sam Thaker, The Crocodile's Teeth, page 31
2. A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.
   Sometimes the kids from the slap-up boys' schools in Eastbourne used to be led round in crocodiles to hand out fags and peppermint creams to the 'wounded Tommies', as they called us. 1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air, part 2, chapter 8
3. (logic) A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.
   We have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation[…] 1798, Maria Edgeworth, Practical Education

verb

1. (slang, intransitive) To speak one's native language at an Esperanto-language gathering, rather than Esperanto.