Caduceus Definition
kə-do͝osē-əs, -shəs, -dyo͝o-
caducei
noun
A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.
American Heritage Medicine
The staff of an ancient herald; esp., the winged staff with two serpents coiled about it, carried by Mercury.
Webster's New World
An emblematic staff like this with either one or two serpents, used as a symbol of the medical profession.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Caduceus
Noun
Singular:
caduceus
Plural:
caduceiOrigin of Caduceus
-
Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karukeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērukeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kērux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērussō, “I announce”).
From Wiktionary
Latin cādūceus alteration of Greek dialectal kārūkeion from kārūx herald
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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