Wiktionary

scaly

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English scali, skaly, equivalent to scale +‎ -y.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈskeɪli/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪli

Adjective edit

scaly (comparative scalier, superlative scaliest)

  1. Covered or abounding with scales.
    Synonyms: squamulose; see also Thesaurus:scaly
    Antonyms: scaleless, esquamulose
    a scaly fish  a scaly stem
  2. Composed of scales lying over each other.
    a scaly bulb
  3. Resembling scales, laminae, or layers.
  4. (dated, vulgar or South Africa) low, mean.
    a scaly fellow
    • 1923, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter II, in Leave It to Psmith:
      This done, he removed the hat; and having touched his forehead lightly with a silk handkerchief, for the afternoon sun was warm, gazed about him with a grave distaste. “A scaly neighbourhood!” he murmured. The young man’s judgment was one at which few people with an eye for beauty would have cavilled.

Synonyms edit

Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

 
A drawing of a scaly yellowfish

scaly (plural scalies)

  1. (South Africa) The scaly yellowfish (Labeobarbus natalensis).

References edit

Anagrams edit

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