Definitions for: Alligator


[n] either of two amphibious reptiles with shorter broader snouts than crocodiles
[n] leather made from alligator's hide
[v] of paint, varnish, or the like: to crack and acquire the appearance of alligator hide, as from weathering or improper application



Webster (1913) Definition: Al"li*ga`tor, n. [Sp. el lagarto the lizard (el
lagarto de Indias, the cayman or American crocodile), fr. L.
lacertus, lacerta, lizard. See Lizard.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A large carnivorous reptile of the Crocodile
family, peculiar to America. It has a shorter and broader
snout than the crocodile, and the large teeth of the lower
jaw shut into pits in the upper jaw, which has no marginal
notches. Besides the common species of the southern United
States, there are allied species in South America.

2. (Mech.) Any machine with strong jaws, one of which opens
like the movable jaw of an alligator; as,
(a) (Metal Working) a form of squeezer for the puddle
ball;
(b) (Mining) a rock breaker;
(c) (Printing) a kind of job press, called also {alligator
press}.

Alligator apple (Bot.), the fruit of the Anona palustris,
a West Indian tree. It is said to be narcotic in its
properties. --Loudon.

Alligator fish (Zo["o]l.), a marine fish of northwestern
America (Podothecus acipenserinus).

Alligator gar (Zo["o]l.), one of the gar pikes
(Lepidosteus spatula) found in the southern rivers of
the United States. The name is also applied to other
species of gar pikes.

Alligator pear (Bot.), a corruption of Avocado pear. See
Avocado.

Alligator snapper, Alligator tortoise, Alligator turtle
(Zo["o]l.), a very large and voracious turtle
(Macrochelys lacertina) inhabiting the rivers of the
southern United States. It sometimes reaches the weight of
two hundred pounds. Unlike the common snapping turtle, to
which the name is sometimes erroneously applied, it has a
scaly head and many small scales beneath the tail. This
name is sometimes given to other turtles, as to species of
Trionyx.

Alligator wood, the timber of a tree of the West Indies
(Guarea Swartzii).

See Also: Alligator mississipiensis, Alligator sinensis, American alligator, Chinese alligator, crack, crocodilian, crocodilian reptile, genus Alligator, leather

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