Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

caduceus

 - 5 dictionary results

ca⋅du⋅ce⋅us

[kuh-doo-see-uhs, -syoos, -shuhs, -dyoo-]
–noun, plural -ce⋅i [-see-ahy] .
1. Classical Mythology. the staff carried by Mercury as messenger of the gods.
2. a representation of this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession and as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.


Origin:
1585–95; < L, var. of cādūceum < Gk (Doric) kārȳ́keion herald's staff, equiv. to kārȳk- (s. of kârȳx) herald + -eion, neut. of -eios adj. suffix


ca⋅du⋅ce⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To caduceus
ca·du·ce·us   (kə-dōō'sē-əs, -shəs, -dyōō'-)   


(click for larger image in new window)
n.   pl. ca·du·ce·i (-sē-ī')
    1. A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.

    2. Greek Mythology A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.

  1. An insignia modeled on Hermes's staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.


[Latin cādūceus, alteration of Greek dialectal kārūkeion, from kārūx, herald.]
ca·du'ce·an (-sē-ən, -shən) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

caduceus 
1591, from L. caduceus, alt. of Doric Gk. karykeion "herald's staff," from karyx (gen. karykos) "a herald." Especially the wand carried by Mercury, messenger of the gods, usually represented with two serpents twined round it.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ca·du·ceus
Pronunciation: k&-'d(y)ü-sE-&s, -sh&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ca·du·cei /-sE-"I/
: a medical insignia bearing a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top: a : one ofthe symbols of a physician —compare STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS b : the emblem of a medical corps ora department of the armed services (as of the U.S. Army)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

caduceus ca·du·ce·us (kə-d&oomacr;'sē-əs, -shəs, -dy&oomacr;'-)
n. pl. ca·du·ce·i (-sē-ī')

  1. A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.

  2. An insignia modeled on Hermes' staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see caduceus on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: