koggelmander, noun

/ˌkɔxəlˈmandə(r)/
Forms:
Formerly also cogolomander, koggelmanner.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, blend formed on koggel to mimic + salamander lizard.
1. Any of several species of non-venomous lizards of the genus Agama of the Agamidae; koggelmannetjie sense 1.
1895 R.H.S. Churchill Men, Mines & Animals 87Jumping up he threw the lizard to Mr De Beer, who loudly exclaimed ‘Mr Chairman, there is a cogolomander here,’ and ran away.
1896 Scientific African Feb. 61The leguan, a large animal of the lizard tribe; the kogelmanner, of two sorts, one dull greyish black, the other with dark blue head, usually seen on large stones.
1940 V. Pohl Bushveld Adventures 151We found that they much preferred koggelmanners and lizards in any shape or form as a staple article of diet.
1953 D. Jacobson Long Way from London 10He told us about the koggelmander that snatched at people walking through the veld.
1956 H. Kops Veld, City & Sea 144The naked hill was..infested with mambas...To keep them company were scorpions and lizards — particularly the hideous jumping koggelmander.
1967 E. Rosenthal Encycl. of Sn Afr. 293Koggelmander, South African name for a lizard and sometimes also for a chameleon.
1984 Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)There used to be hundreds of lizards in my garden, not just the common lizard, also the koggelmanders — you know those ones that poke their neck out in a jerky way.
1987 Patterson & Bannister Reptiles of Sn Afr. 37The agamas, or ‘koggelmanders’ as they are known colloquially, are fairly robust lizards that have distinct heads like those of toads, movable eyelids and ear openings that are usually clearly seen.
2. With qualifying word: bloukopkoggelmander/ˌbləʊkɔp-/, formerly also blaauwkop koggelmander, blauwkop koggelmander [Afrikaans bloukop (earlier South African Dutch blauwkop), blou blue + kop head], a male koggelmander, with bright blue back and head; black koggelmannetjie, see koggelmannetjie sense 2.
[1889 H.A. Bryden Kloof & Karroo 278The Boers call it the ‘Blaauw kop salamander’ (blueheaded salamander), and look upon it with feelings of awe and horror. They will tell you solemnly..that this reptile is deadly poisonous, and that from it all the snakes obtain and renew their poison.]
1950 W. Rose Reptiles & Amphibians 145Found from North Cape Province to the Tropics is A. aculeata...commonly called the ‘Blaauwkop Koggelmander,’ which, though fond of perching on the tops of thorn trees, also lives on the ground.
1955 L.G. Green Karoo 16Each day brings the oppresive thunder weather, with everyone staring at the sky, or at the blue-headed lizard, the bloukopkoggelmander, that is supposed to gaze steadfastly into the north when rain is on the way.
1970 H.M. Musmeci Informant, Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha), Eastern CapeThere is a bloukopkoggelmander on that rock (blue-headed lizard).
1985 Grocott’s Mail Apr. (advt)We’ve adopted the Bloukopkoggelmander as our symbol. Legend has it that this colourful creature can predict the changing conditions.
Any of several species of non-venomous lizards of the genus Agama of the Agamidae; koggelmannetjie sense 1.
bloukopkoggelmander/ˌbləʊkɔp-/, formerly also blaauwkop koggelmander, blauwkop koggelmander [Afrikaans bloukop (earlier South African Dutch blauwkop), blou blue + kop head], a male koggelmander, with bright blue back and head; black koggelmannetjie, see koggelmannetjie sense 2.
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Afrikaans
kogel-tas, nounn.koggelmannetjie, nounn.
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