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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Scorpion \Scor"pi*on\, n. [F., fr. L. scorpio, scorpius, Gr. ?,
perhaps akin to E. sharp.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of pulmonate arachnids
of the order {Scorpiones}, having a suctorial mouth, large
claw-bearing palpi, and a caudal sting.
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Note: Scorpions have a flattened body, and a long, slender
post-abdomen formed of six movable segments, the last
of which terminates in a curved venomous sting. The
venom causes great pain, but is unattended either with
redness or swelling, except in the axillary or inguinal
glands, when an extremity is affected. It is seldom if
ever destructive of life. Scorpions are found widely
dispersed in the warm climates of both the Old and New
Worlds.
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2. (Zool.) The pine or gray lizard ({Sceloporus undulatus}).
[Local, U. S.]
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3. (Zool.) The scorpene.
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4. (Script.) A painful scourge.
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My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will
chastise you with scorpions. --1 Kings xii.
11.
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5. (Astron.) A sign and constellation. See {Scorpio}.
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6. (Antiq.) An ancient military engine for hurling stones and
other missiles.
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{Book scorpion}. (Zool.) See under {Book}.

{False scorpion}. (Zool.) See under {False}, and {Book
scorpion}.

{Scorpion bug}, or {Water scorpion} (Zool.) See {Nepa}.

{Scorpion fly} (Zool.), a neuropterous insect of the genus
{Panorpa}. See {Panorpid}.

{Scorpion grass} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Myosotis}.
{Myosotis palustris} is the {forget-me-not}.

{Scorpion senna} (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous shrub
({Coronilla Emerus}) having a slender joined pod, like a
scorpion's tail. The leaves are said to yield a dye like
indigo, and to be used sometimes to adulterate senna.

{Scorpion shell} (Zool.), any shell of the genus Pteroceras.
See {Pteroceras}.

{Scorpion spiders}. (Zool.), any one of the Pedipalpi.

{Scorpion's tail} (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus
{Scorpiurus}, herbs with a circinately coiled pod; -- also
called {caterpillar}.

{Scorpion's thorn} (Bot.), a thorny leguminous plant
({Genista Scorpius}) of Southern Europe.

{The Scorpion's Heart} (Astron.), the star Antares in the
constellation Scorpio.
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Caterpillar \Cat"er*pil`lar\, n. [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr.
OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte,
she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus L. pilosus hairy, or F.
pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See {Cat}, and {Pile} hair.]
1. (Zool.) The larval state of a butterfly or any
lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the
larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are
also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have
three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal
fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy,
others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and
succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many
of them are popularly called worms, as the {cutworm},
{cankerworm}, {army worm}, {cotton worm}, {silkworm}.
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2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Scorpiurus}, with pods
resembling caterpillars.
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{Caterpillar catcher}, or {Caterpillar eater} (Zool.), a bird
belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on
caterpillars. The name is also given to several other
birds.

{Caterpillar hunter} (Zool.), any species of beetles of the
genus {Callosoma} and other allied genera of the family
{Carabid[ae]} which feed habitually upon caterpillars.
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