gecko
n.n. a small lizard with a flat body and large eyes. Many species can change their skin color to match their surroundings for protection.
n. a small, typically nocturnal lizard belonging to the family Gekkonidae, characterized by a flattened body and the ability to adhere to vertical surfaces using specialized toe pads.
The gecko climbed the glass wall of the house.
We saw a small gecko hiding in the leaves of the garden during the evening.
The gecko's remarkable ability to change its skin color is a sophisticated form of camouflage that allows it to blend seamlessly into its rocky habitat.
The modern form was probably borrowed into English and other European languages from Dutch gekko (1718). Contemporary English forms were chacco (1711) and jackoa (1724). The further origin is not quite clear. Some sources mention a supposed Malay gekok, gekoq, or gekop, which would be imitative of the gecko’s chirping sound. Another theory derives it from Acehnese gèh-gòh (“busy”).