Lacerta

Lacerta is the name of a genus of lizards of family Lacertidae. Lacerta, is derived from Spanish lagarto, from Latin lacertus (masculine), re-spelled lacerta (feminine), 'lizard', which stand for *lacer-tos, *lacro-tos, re-spelled *lacer-ta, *lacro-ta, and derive from Indo-European base *leq-, 'to bend, twist', whence probably also Latin locusta, 'grasshopper, locust', literally 'the jumper', Old Norse leggr, 'leg'. Related words are: lizard, leg, Lacerta, lacertian, lobster, locust, and alligator [Klein]. Lizard is a nautical term used for a piece of rope with a thimble spliced into the end. Lizard is also a term used for a piece of timber with a forked end, used in dragging a heavy stone, a log, or the like, from a field.

Alligator is an alteration of Spanish el lagarto, 'the lizard': el, the (from Latin ille, that), + lagarto.

Lizards differ from crocodiles in having a broader, shorter snout. Lizards (which include alligators, crocodiles and their ancestors) possess lachrymal glands, i.e. tear glands. Alligators and crocodiles can spend prolonged periods of time out of the water and the eyes need to be protected from drying out by the development of tear glands. The variant spelling of  the word for lizard *lacer-, to *lacro-, resembles the Latin cognate for tear² (as in 'crocodile tears'); lachrymal, also lacrimal, from Latin lacrima, from the Indo-European root *dakru- 'Tear'. [Pokorny dakru- 179. Watkins].

Lacertus was a Latin term for the upper arm, or a bundle or fascicle of muscular fibers. The Latin word was used for 'muscle' as well as 'lizard,' perhaps because the ripple of a muscle beneath the skin reminded people of a lizard's movement (an exactly parallel development links mouse and muscle). [John Ayto, Dictionary of Word Origins]

“The lizard (lacertus) is a type of reptile, so named because it has arms (compare lacertus, 'upper arm'). There are many kinds of lizards, such as the botrax, the salamander, the saura, and the newt.” [p.257.] "In the arms is the brawn of the upper arms (lacertus), and there the marked strength of the muscles is located.” [p.235]  [The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, 7th century AD]

“Some believe that the word for tears (lacrima) comes from an injury of the mind (laceratio mentis); others maintain that it is identical with what is called lakruon ('tear') in Greek.” [The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, p.233.]

The word Lacertus resembles lacerate from Latin laceratus, from lacerare 'tear to pieces, mangle,' from lacer 'torn, mangled'. Unlike snakes which shed their skin in one piece, lizards shed their skin in patches and can look very ragged for a few days - their skin is torn to pieces. Also lizards can be torn to pieces in another way; they can escape from their enemies by breaking off their tail, and are capable of regenerating lost limbs or tails. A detached tail wiggles for several minutes.

The shed skin of lizards might resemble pieces of lace? Some lizards have names like the Lace Monitor, Frilled neck Lizard ... Lizard is a nautical term used for a piece of rope with a thimble spliced into the end. A shoelace is a piece of string with a tipped end, or aglets.

Lacerta, the Lizard, is adjacent to Cygnus, the Swan. This constellation might relate to the myth Hyrie mother of Cycnus (Cygnus) Hyrie (also Thyria, or Thyrie) turns into a lake weeping tears for her son. Hyrie was a woman (perhaps from Hyria in Boiotia, Central Greece) who bore Apollon a son Cycnus, who was transformed into a swan by Apollo when he leapt off a cliff. "Hyrie, not knowing he was safe, pined away with weeping, and became the lake that carries her name". Lake Hyrie, and Cycnean Tempe are closeby. Referring to Medea flying over the earth Ovid says: "Then she saw Lake Hyrie, and Cycnean Tempe" [http://etext.virginia.edu/latin/ovid/trans/Metamorph7.htm] Swans are usually depicted swimming on lakes and prefer the still waters of lakes to flowing rivers. The word lake from Latin lacus, resembles some cognates of lacerta? 

© Anne Wright 2008.