caduceus

[ kuh-doo-see-uhs, -syoos, -shuhs, -dyoo- ]

noun

, plural ca·du·ce·i [k, uh, -, doo, -see-ahy, -shee-ahy, -, dyoo, -].

1. Classical Mythology. the staff carried by Mercury as messenger of the gods.
2. a representation of this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession and as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

caduceus

/ kəˈdjuːsɪəs /

noun

1. 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
2. an insignia resembling this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession Compare staff of Aesculapius

Other Words From

• ca·duce·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caduceus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caduceus¹

C16: from Latin, from Doric Greek karukeion, from karux herald

Example Sentences

Bathed in blue and red light, it has a caduceus — a symbol for medicine, with winged staff and twined serpents — projected high on either side.

From New York Times

Like the standard medical ID bracelets, each has an engraved six-pointed star with caduceus — the medical symbol inspired by the Greek god Hermes — at its center.

From New York Times

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

George and Martha curled around the caduceus, which shimmered and changed into something that looked suspiciously like a high-voltage cattle prod.

From Literature

It was a caduceus, the symbol of Cabin Eleven.

From Literature

Related Words

• baton