Agamas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of lizards predominantly found in the Old World that are known for their adaptability and varying colors and patterns
2. A group of reptiles generally characterized by their long bodies and ability to change color, found mainly in Africa and Asia
3. A category of scaled reptiles recognized for their diverse habitats and behaviors, frequently exhibiting remarkable coloration variations

Etymology: "Agamas" is simply the plural of "agama," the name for a family of lizards native to Africa, Asia, and Australia. The singular came into English from Sranan Tongo, the creole language of Suriname, where "agama" meant "lizard." That creole word was itself borrowed from a Gbe language of West Africa, where a related form, Ewe "agama," refers to the chameleon. The chain of borrowing therefore runs from West Africa across the Atlantic and into an English-speaking scientific vocabulary, carrying a word for one kind of reptile into the naming system of another. Its meaning shifted along the way: a term for a chameleon in one language became a label for an entire family of lizards that look nothing like chameleons in many cases.

Synonyms: agama lizards