Main Entry: sal·a·man·der

Pronunciation: \ˈsa-lə-ˌman-dər also ˌsa-lə-ˈ\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English salamandre, from Anglo-French, from Latin salamandra, from Greek

Date: 14th century

1 : a mythical animal having the power to endure fire without harm
2 : an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus inhabiting fire
3 : any of numerous amphibians (order Caudata) superficially resembling lizards but scaleless and covered with a soft moist skin and breathing by gills in the larval stage
4 : an article used in connection with fire: as a : a cooking utensil for browning a food (as pastry or pudding) b : a portable stove c : a cooking device with an overhead heat source like a broiler

— sal·a·man·drine \ˌsa-lə-ˈman-drən\ adjective