Meaning

noun leather made from alligator's hide

noun either of two amphibious reptiles related to crocodiles but with shorter broader snouts

verb crack and acquire the appearance of alligator hide, as from weathering or improper application; of paint and varnishes

origin] From early Modern English alligater, alligarta, aligarto, alegarto, alagarto, from Spanish el lagarto (“the lizard”), from Latin lacertus (“lizard”), modern spelling possibly influenced by the unrelated Latin alligator (“one who binds”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0