lacerta

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Lacerta
    n 1: type genus of the Lacertidae [syn: {Lacerta}, {genus
         Lacerta}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Lacerta \La*cer"ta\, n. [L. lacertus the arm.]
   A fathom. [Obs.] --Domesday Book.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Lacerta \La*cer"ta\, n. [L. a lizard. See {Lizard}.]
   1. (Zool.) A genus of lizards. See {Lizard}.
      [1913 Webster]

   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 ({Lacerta agilis}), of Europe.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. (Astron.) The Lizard, a northern constellation.
      [1913 Webster]