n.
Pronunciation: ' sko ̇ r-p ē - ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French eskorpiun, from Latin scorpion-, scorpio, from Greek skorpios
Date: 12th century
1 a : any of an order (Scorpionida) of nocturnal arachnids that have an elongated body and a narrow segmented tail bearing a venomous stinger at the tip b capitalized : SCORPIO
2 : a scourge prob. studded with metal
3 : something that incites to action like the sting of an insect <the scorpion s of absolute necessity ― Arnold Bennett>
scorpion 1a