scorpion

Meaning

Noun

• Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones, related to the spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting in the end.
• An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.
• A very spiteful or vindictive person.
• A cheerleading move in which one foot is pulled back and held up with both hands while the performer stands on the other foot.
• A whip with points like a scorpion's tail.

Origin

• From Middle English scorpioun, skorpioun, schorpion, schorpiun, partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman scorpïun, Old French scorpïon, escorpïon; all from Latin scorpio, ultimately from Ancient Greek σκορπίος. The cheerleading move is so called because of the resemblance of the raised foot to a scorpion's stinger.