Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In heraldry, a monster whose fore part is that of a dragon with its fore legs and wings, while the hinder part has the form of a serpent with a barbed tail.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of wyvern.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a fire-breathing dragon used in medieval heraldry; had the head of a dragon and the tail of a snake and a body with wings and two legs

Etymologies

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Examples

  • And while the fallen king stared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of mail shirt, burganet and leg-pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate-mail, with the vizored salade, and the dark plumes nodding over the wivern crest.

    The Bloody Crown Of Conan Howard, Robert E. 2003

  • And while the fallen king stared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of mail shirt, burganet and leg-pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate-mail, with the vizored salade, and the dark plumes nodding over the wivern crest.

    The Bloody Crown of Conan Howard, Robert E. 2003

  • And while the fallen king stared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of mail shirt, burganet and leg-pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate-mail, with the vizored salade, and the dark plumes nodding over the wivern crest.

    The Conan Chronicles Howard, Robert E. 1989

  • And while the fallen king stared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of mail shirt, burganet and leg-pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate-mail, with the vizored salade, and the dark plumes nodding over the wivern crest.

    The Hour Of The Dragon Howard, Robert E. 1977

  • And while the fallen king stared with burning eyes that reflected the bitter rage and humiliation that ate his heart, the squires stripped Valannus of mail shirt, burganet and leg-pieces, and clad him in Conan's armor of black plate-mail, with the vizored salade, and the dark plumes nodding over the wivern crest.

    The Hour of the Dragon Howard, Robert E. 1977

  • In the foreground in front of each monk was a plant of the deadly nightshade, and over his head a sprig of the same, while in the lower part was the figure of a wivern -- _i. e._ a viper or dragon with a serpent-like tail -- this being the device of Thomas Plantagenet, the second Earl of Lancaster, who was highly esteemed by the monks.

    From John O'Groats to Land's End Robert Naylor

  • He bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his saddle-bow; but Terlake carried in front of him the high wivern - crested bassinet, Ford the heavy ash spear with swallow-tail pennon, while Alleyne was entrusted with the emblazoned shield.

    The White Company Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1902

  • He bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his saddle-bow; but Terlake carried in front of him the high wivern - crested bassinet, Ford the heavy ash spear with swallow-tail pennon, while Alleyne was entrusted with the emblazoned shield.

    The White Company Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1902

  • He bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his saddle-bow; but Terlake carried in front of him the high wivern - crested bassinet, Ford the heavy ash spear with swallow-tail pennon, while Alleyne was entrusted with the emblazoned shield.

    The White Company Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1902

  • He bore no arms save the long and heavy sword which hung at his saddle-bow; but Terlake carried in front of him the high wivern-crested bassinet,

    The White Company Arthur Conan Doyle 1894

Comments

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  • A fantastical beast; a term used in heraldry.

    December 12, 2010