caduceus

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“
He bore in his hand a rod entwined with two serpents, called the caduceus Mercury is said to have invented the lyre.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.
  2. noun Greek Mythology A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.
  3. noun An insignia modeled on Hermes's staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.

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Examples (50)

  • My tattoo would be shifting madly, serpents writhing up the staff of the caduceus, their scales whispering dryly. —  Lilith Saintcrow - [Dante Valentine 1] - Working for the Devil
  • And an older man in a gold embroidered gown carrying a caduceus, the herald's winged staff with snakes wound about it. —  F ;SF; - vol 091 issue 01 - July 1996
  • 'Tell dear Mr. Kenyon how very very much I like Mrs. Leslie. She seems all that is good and kind, and to add great intelligence and agreeableness to these prime qualities Now I have done with being a messenger of the gods, and verily my caduceus is trembling in my hand. —  The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1 of 2)
  • My cheek burned, the twisted-caduceus tat shifting its inked lines against my flesh. —  Lilith Saintcrow - [Dante Valentine 2] - Dead Man Rising
  • Rhadamanthus escorted the dead gladiator from the ring; Hermes must have touched him with the hot caduceus, leaving a livid red mark on his upper arm. —  Two For The Lions
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin cādūceus, alteration of Greek dialectal kārūkeion, from kārūx, herald.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. L.; prob. (d for r) from Greek, κηρύκειον, Doric καρύκειον, -κιον, a herald's staff, neuter of κηρύκειος, of a herald, from κῆρυξ, Doric κᾶρυξ, a herald, from κηρύσσ, σ1ειν, proclaim, announce, tell.
 

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/kæˈdjusəəs/
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