Caduceus Definition

kə-do͝osē-əs, -shəs, -dyo͝o-
caducei
noun
A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.
American Heritage Medicine
The staff of an ancient herald; esp., the winged staff with two serpents coiled about it, carried by Mercury.
Webster's New World
An emblematic staff like this with either one or two serpents, used as a symbol of the medical profession.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Caduceus

Noun

Singular:
caduceus
Plural:
caducei

Origin of Caduceus

  • Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karukeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērukeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kērux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērussō, “I announce”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin cādūceus alteration of Greek dialectal kārūkeion from kārūx herald

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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