caduceus

Definition of Caduceus in English :

1. caduceus

an insignia used by the medical profession; modeled after the staff of Hermes

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Caduceus

noun plural -cei (-sɪˌaɪ)

1. classical mythology

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

nounWord forms: plural caˈduceˌi (kəˈdusiˌaɪ ; kədo̅oˈsēīˌ; kəˈdjusiˌaɪ ; kədyo̅oˈsēīˌ)

1.

the staff of an ancient herald; esp., the winged staff with two serpents coiled about it, carried by Mercury

2.

an emblematic staff like this with either one or two serpents, used as a symbol of the medical profession

n. pl. ca·du·ce·i (-sē-ī′)

1.

a. A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.

b. Greek Mythology A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.

2. An insignia modeled on Hermes's staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.