scorpion

noun

1. any of numerous arachnids of the order Scorpionida, widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, having a long, narrow, segmented tail that terminates in a venomous sting.
2. the Scorpion, Astronomy. Scorpius.
3. any of various harmless lizards, especially the red- or orange-headed males of certain North American skinks.
4. Bible. a whip or scourge that has spikes attached. I Kings 12:11.

noun

1. any arachnid of the order Scorpionida, of warm dry regions, having a segmented body with a long tail terminating in a venomous sting
2. false scorpion any small nonvenomous arachnid of the order Pseudoscorpionida (or Chelonethida), which superficially resemble scorpions but lack the long tailSee book scorpion
3. any of various other similar arachnids, such as the whip scorpion, or other arthropods, such as the water scorpion
4. Old Testament a barbed scourge (I Kings 12:11)
5. history a war engine for hurling stones; ballista

noun

1. the Scorpion the constellation Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac

n.c.1200, from Old French scorpion (12c.), from Latin scorpionem (nominative scorpio), extended form of scorpius, from Greek skorpios “a scorpion,” from PIE root *(s)ker- “to cut” (see shear (v.)). The Spanish alacran “scorpion” is from Arabic al-‘aqrab.