caduceus

[ kuh-doo-see-uhs, -syoos, -shuhs, -dyoo- ]
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noun,plural ca·du·ce·i [kuh-doo-see-ahy, -shee-ahy, -dyoo-]. /kəˈdu siˌaɪ, -ʃiˌaɪ, -ˈdyu-/.
  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 of caduceus

1
1585–95; <Latin, variant of cādūceum<Greek (Doric) kārȳ́keion herald's staff, equivalent to kārȳk- (stem of kârȳx) herald + -eion, neuter of -eios adj. suffix

Other words from caduceus

  • ca·du·ce·an, adjective

Words Nearby caduceus

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How to use caduceus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for caduceus

caduceus

/ (kəˈdjuːsɪəs) /


nounplural -cei (-sɪˌaɪ)
  1. classical myth a staff entwined with two serpents and bearing a pair of wings at the top, carried by Hermes (Mercury) as messenger of the gods

  2. an insignia resembling this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession: Compare staff of Aesculapius

Origin of caduceus

1
C16: from Latin, from Doric Greek karukeion, from karux herald

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