"Goanna" Etymology:
The name goanna might have been derived from iguana, as early European settlers likened goannas to the South American lizards. Over time, the initial vowel sound was dropped. A similar explanation is used to link possum to the American opossum.
Another possibility is that the name might have been derived from the South African term for a monitor lizard leguaan, as the Cape of Good Hope was a popular refresher stop for immigrant ships to Australia from Britain.
