— scorpionic /skawr'pee on"ik/ , adj.
/skawr"pee euhn/ , n.
1. any of numerous arachnids of the order Scorpionida, widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, having a long, narrow, segmented tail that terminates in a venomous sting.
2. the Scorpion , Astron. Scorpius.
3. any of various harmless lizards, esp. the red- or orange-headed males of certain North American skinks.
4. Bible. a whip or scourge that has spikes attached. I Kings 12:11.
[ 1175-1225; ME scorpion- (s. of scorpio ), equiv. to scorp ( ius ) scorpion ( skorpíos ) + -ion- n. suffix, perh. after papilio (s. papilion- ) butterfly, or stellio (s. stellion- ) gecko ]