3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reptile  \Rep"tile\,  n. 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.)  An  animal  that  crawls,  or  moves  on  its  belly, 
  as  snakes,,  or  by  means  of  small  short  legs,  as  lizards, 
  and  the  like 
 
  An  inadvertent  step  may  crush  the  snail  That  crawls 
  at  evening  in  the  public  path;  But  he  that  has 
  humanity,  forewarned,  Will  tread  aside,  and  let  the 
  reptile  live.  --Cowper. 
 
  2.  (Zo["o]l.)  One  of  the  Reptilia,  or  one  of  the  Amphibia. 
 
  Note:  The  amphibians  were  formerly  classed  with  Reptilia,  and 
  are  still  popularly  called  reptiles,  though  much  more 
  closely  allied  to  the  fishes. 
 
  3.  A  groveling  or  very  mean  person. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Reptile  \Rep"tile\  (r?p"t?l;277),  a.  [F.  reptile,  L.  reptilis, 
  fr  repere,  reptum,  to  creep;  cf  Lith.  reploti  perh.  akin 
  to  L.  serpere  Cf  {Serpent}.] 
  1.  Creeping;  moving  on  the  belly,  or  by  means  of  small  and 
  short  legs. 
 
  2.  Hence:  Groveling;  low  vulgar;  as  a  reptile  race  or  crew; 
  reptile  vices. 
 
  There  is  also  a  false,  reptile  prudence,  the  result 
  not  of  caution,  but  of  fear.  --Burke. 
 
  And  dislodge  their  reptile  souls  From  the  bodies  and 
  forms  of  men.  --Coleridge. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  reptile 
  n  :  any  cold-blooded  vertebrate  of  the  class  Reptilia  including 
  tortoises  turtles  snakes  lizards  alligators  crocodiles 
  and  extinct  forms  [syn:  {reptilian}] 

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