resembling or covered in scales peeling off in scales
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
scal•y /ˈskeɪli/USA pronunciation adj., -i•er, -i•est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- having, consisting of, or full of scales:the scaly skin of the snake.
scal•y
(skā′lē),USA pronunciation adj., scal•i•er, scal•i•est.
scal′i•ness, n.
- Biologycovered with or abounding in scales or scale.
- Biologycharacterized by or consisting of scales;
scalelike. - peeling or flaking off in scales.
- [Slang.]shabby;
despicable.
- scale1 + -y1 1520–30
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'scaly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Norway rat
- acorn
- admirable bolete
- anteater
- arbor vitae
- asparagus
- bird
- bloodwood
- broomrape family
- buckeye
- cantaloupe
- catkin
- diaspore
- dragon
- esquamate
- exfoliate
- furfur
- furfuraceous
- galliwasp
- hare's-foot fern
- ichthyosis
- jock itch
- leper
- lepido-
- lepidolite
- lepidote
- lily
- lizard
- lupus erythematosus
- mossy horn
- pangolin
- parasol mushroom
- pine family
- pityroid
- psoriasis
- psorosis
- scabrous
- scale
- scaly anteater
- scurf
- scutellation
- snake
- solenodon
- squamate
- squarrose
- stickleback
- toothwort
- xeroderma