caducean

Variant of caduceus

caduceus definition

ca·du·ceus (kə do̵̅o̅′sē əs, -dyo̵̅o̅′-)

noun pl. caducei -·cei′ (-sē ī′)

  1. the staff of an ancient herald; esp., the winged staff with two serpents coiled about it, carried by Mercury
  2. an emblematic staff like this with either one or two serpents, used as a symbol of the medical profession

Etymology: L, ? via Etr < Gr(Doric) karykeion, for Gr kērykeion < kēryx, herald < IE base *kar-, to praise > OHG hruom, Ger ruhm

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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