caduceus

noun

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ca·du·ceus | \ kə-ˈdü-sē-əs

, -ˈdyü-, -shəs \

plural caducei\ kə-ˈdü-sē-ˌī

, -ˈdyü- , -shē- \

Definition of caduceus

1 : the symbolic staff of a herald specifically : a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top

2 : a medical insignia bearing a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top:

a : one sometimes used to symbolize a physician but often considered to be an erroneous representation — compare staff of asclepius

b : the emblem of a medical corps or a department of the armed services (as of the United States Army)

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about caduceus

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Did You Know?

The Greek god Hermes, who served as herald and messenger to the other gods, carried a winged staff entwined with two snakes. The staff of Aesculapius, the god of healing, had one snake and no wings. The word ''caduceus," from Latin, is a modification of Greek karykeion, from karyx, meaning "herald." Strictly speaking, "caduceus" should refer only to the staff of the herald-god Hermes (Mercury to the Romans), but in practice the word is often applied to the one-snake staff as well. You might logically expect the staff of Aesculapius to be the symbol of the medical profession-and indeed, that is the symbol used by the American Medical Association. But you will also quite frequently see the true caduceus used as a medical symbol.

Examples of caduceus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Above each of those arches looms a caduceus, the winged staff entwined with two snakes that’s used as a symbol of medicine. — San Antonio Express-News, "The Gargoyles Guarding S.A.," 28 Mar. 2020 Or, try Cameron's other outfit featuring a caduceus T-shirt and suspenders. — Tierney Mcafee, Country Living, "The Best 'Ferris Bueller' Costume Ideas to Channel Your Inner Teenager This Halloween," 3 Sep. 2019 The card shows a man and a woman each holding a cup; their cups touch, and from the union springs a winged-lion head atop a caduceus. — Peter Bebergal, The New Yorker, "Making the Tarot Literary Again," 29 Feb. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caduceus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.