lacerta

La*cer"ta, n. Etym: [L. lacertus the arm.] Defn: A fathom. [Obs.] Domesday Book. La*cer"ta, n. Etym: [L. a lizard. See Lizard.] 1. (Zoöl.) Defn: A genus of lizards. See Lizard. Note: Formerly it included nearly all the known lizards. It is now restricted to certain diurnal Old World species, like the green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and the sand lizard (L. agilis), of Europe. 2. (Astron.) Defn: The Lizard, a northern constellation.

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