scorpion

English

a fat-tail scorpion (Androctonus sp.)

scorpion cheerleading move (3)

Alternative forms

• skorpion (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English scorpioun, skorpioun, schorpion, schorpiun, partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman scorpïun, Old French scorpïon, escorpïon; all from Latin scorpiō, ultimately from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos). The cheerleading move is so called because of the resemblance of the raised foot to a scorpion's stinger.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskɔː.pi.ən/, /-pɪ.ən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈskɔɹ.pi.ən/, /'skwɚ-/

Noun

scorpion (plural scorpions)

1. Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones, related to the spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting in the end.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Deuteronomy 8:15:

     Who led thee through that great and terrible wildernesse, wherein were fierie serpents, and scorpions, & drought, where there was no water, who brought thee foorth water out of the rocke of flint,

2. (historical) An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.
3. (figurative) A very spiteful or vindictive person.
4. A cheerleading move in which one foot is pulled back and held up with both hands while the performer stands on the other foot.
5. (obsolete, biblical) A whip with points like a scorpion's tail.

   Coordinate term: scourge

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, 1 Kings 12:11:

     And now whereas my father did lade you with a heauy yoke, I wil adde to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whippes, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• arachnid
• Scorpio

Further reading

• scorpion on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “scorpion”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “scorpion”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin scorpiōnem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skɔʁ.pjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

scorpion m (plural scorpions)

1. scorpion

Descendants

• → Romanian: scorpion

Further reading

• “scorpion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

Anagrams

• picorons

Middle English

Noun

scorpion

1. Alternative form of scorpioun

Norman

Etymology

From Old French scorpion, from Latin scorpiō, scorpiōnem, from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos).

Noun

scorpion m (plural scorpions)

1. (Jersey) mole cricket

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French scorpion, from Latin scorpio, from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos). Doublet of scorpie.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skorˈpjon/

Noun

scorpion m (plural scorpioni)

1. scorpion

Declension