caduceus
Americannoun
plural
caducei-
Classical Mythology. the staff carried by Mercury as messenger of the gods.
-
a representation of this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession and as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
noun
-
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
-
an insignia resembling this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession Compare staff of Aesculapius
Other Word Forms
- caducean adjective
Etymology
Origin of caduceus
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Above each of those arches looms a caduceus, the winged staff entwined with two snakes that’s used as a symbol of medicine.
From Washington Times • Apr. 5, 2020
The caduceus symbolises trade, negotiation and reciprocity and was co-opted into the Baphomet by Levi.
From BBC • Jul. 31, 2015
On his right shoulder, twin serpents corkscrew around a winged brunette—a play on the caduceus, mythical symbol of medicine and healing.
From Salon • Dec. 26, 2012
But please don’t call it depression. — caduceus I don’t doubt that there are young children who are depressed.
From New York Times • Aug. 26, 2010
He scratched his back with his caduceus, and George and Martha muttered Ow, ow, ow.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
