salamander

sal·a·man·der  (sl-mndr)

n.

1. Any of various small lizardlike amphibians of the order Caudata, having porous scaleless skin and four, often weak or rudimentary legs.

2.

a. A mythical creature, generally resembling a lizard, believed capable of living in or withstanding fire.

b. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being having fire as its element.

3. An object, such as a poker, used in fire or capable of withstanding heat.

4. Metallurgy A mass of solidified material, largely metallic, left in a blast-furnace hearth.

5. A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction.

---

[Middle English salamandre, from Old French, from Latin salamandra, from Greek.]

---

sala·mandrine (-drn) adj.

---

salamander

Noun

1. a tailed amphibian which looks like a lizard

2. a mythical creature supposed to live in fire [Greek salamandra]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	salamander - any of various typically terrestrial amphibians that resemble lizards and that return to water only to breed amphibian - cold-blooded vertebrate typically living on land but breeding in water; aquatic larvae undergo metamorphosis into adult form European fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra - a kind of European salamander fire salamander, Salamandra maculosa, spotted salamander - European salamander having dark skin with usually yellow spots alpine salamander, Salamandra atra - ovoviviparous amphibian of the Alps newt, triton - small usually bright-colored semiaquatic salamanders of North America and Europe and northern Asia ambystomid, ambystomid salamander - small to moderate-sized terrestrial or semiaquatic New World salamander Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, hellbender, mud puppy - large salamander of North American rivers and streams giant salamander, Megalobatrachus maximus - large (up to more than three feet) edible salamander of Asia olm, Proteus anguinus - European aquatic salamander with permanent external gills that lives in caves mud puppy, Necturus maculosus - aquatic North American salamander with red feathery external gills dicamptodon, dicamptodontid - salamanders found near cold streams throughout the year Dicamptodon ensatus, Pacific giant salamander - large (to 7 inches) salamander of western North America olympic salamander, Rhyacotriton olympicus - small large-eyed semiaquatic salamander of the United States Northwest lungless salamander, plethodont - mostly terrestrial salamanders that breathe through their thin moist skin; lay eggs in moist places on land; rarely enter water eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus - common salamander of eastern North America Plethodon vehiculum, western red-backed salamander - salamander of the Pacific coast of North America dusky salamander - common North American salamander mottled with dull brown or greyish-black climbing salamander - any of several North American salamanders adapted for climbing with well-developed limbs and long somewhat squared-off toes slender salamander, worm salamander - any of several small slim salamanders of the Pacific coast of the United States web-toed salamander - any of several salamanders with webbed toes and very long extensile tongues; excellent climbers that move with ease over smooth rock surfaces amphiuma, blind eel, congo eel, congo snake - aquatic eel-shaped salamander having two pairs of very small feet; of still muddy waters in the southern United States siren - eellike aquatic North American salamander with small forelimbs and no hind limbs; have permanent external gills
	2.	salamander - reptilian creature supposed to live in fire mythical creature, mythical monster - a monster renowned in folklore and myth
	3.	salamander - fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire fire hook, poker, stove poker fire iron - metal fireside implements