salamander

(salə man′dər)

noun

  1. a mythological reptile, resembling the lizard, that was said to live in fire
  2. a spirit supposed to live in fire: orig., a spirit in Paracelsus' alchemical system
  3. any of various articles used in fire or able to produce or withstand heat, as a poker, portable oven, or a utensil for browning pastry
  4. any of an order (Caudata) of limbed, tailed amphibians with a soft, moist skin

Origin: ME salamandre < OFr < L salamandra < Gr

Related Forms:

See salamander in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Any of various small lizardlike amphibians of the order Caudata, having porous scaleless skin and four, often weak or rudimentary legs.
  2. a. A mythical creature, generally resembling a lizard, believed capable of living in or withstanding fire.
    b. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being having fire as its element.
  3. An object, such as a poker, used in fire or capable of withstanding heat.
  4. Metallurgy A mass of solidified material, largely metallic, left in a blast-furnace hearth.
  5. A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English salamandre

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin salamandra

Origin: , from Greek

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Related Forms:

  • salˌa·manˈdrine (-drĭn) adjective

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