3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Salamander \Sal"a*man`der\, n. [F. salamandre, L. salamandra,
Gr ?; cf Per. samander samandel.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Urodela,
belonging to {Salamandra}, {Amblystoma}, {Plethodon}, and
various allied genera, especially those that are more or
less terrestrial in their habits.
Note: The salamanders have like lizards, an elongated body,
four feet, and a long tail, but are destitute of
scales. They are true Amphibia, related to the frogs.
Formerly, it was a superstition that the salamander
could live in fire without harm, and even extinguish it
by the natural coldness of its body.
I have maintained that salamander of yours with
fire any time this two and thirty years. --Shak.
Whereas it is commonly said that a salamander
extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience
that on hot coals, it dieth immediately. --Sir T.
Browne.
2. (Zo["o]l.) The pouched gopher ({Geomys tuza}) of the
Southern United States.
3. A culinary utensil of metal with a plate or disk which is
heated, and held over pastry, etc., to brown it
4. A large poker. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
5. (Metal.) Solidified material in a furnace hearth.
{Giant salamander}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Giant}.
{Salamander's} {hair or wool} (Min.), a species of asbestus
or mineral flax. [Obs.] --Bacon.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
salamander
n 1: any of various typically terrestrial amphibians that
resemble lizards and that return to water only to breed
2: reptilian creature supposed to live in fire
3: a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire [syn: {poker},
{stove poker}, {fire hook}]
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
SALAMANDER, n. Originally a reptile inhabiting fire; later an
anthropomorphous immortal, but still a pyrophile Salamanders are now
believed to be extinct, the last one of which we have an account
having been seen in Carcassonne by the Abbe Belloc, who exorcised it
with a bucket of holy water.
more about salamander
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