caduceus English · revision 1077

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈdu.si.əs/, /kəˈdjuː.si.əs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|caduceus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) an alteration of Doric Greek ''kārū́keion'' “herald's staff”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''kârux'' (Attic ''kêrux'') “herald”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably a Pre-Greek word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The staff carried by an ancient Greek or Roman herald (1591; 1577 in Merriam-Webster).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a token of a peaceful embassy the herald's staff was originally an olive branch.^(Etymonline) It came to mean especially the wand of Mercury (Hermes), messenger of the gods, shown with two serpents twined around it and wings at the top.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(OED 1989) As Mercury was the god of commerce, it became a symbol of commerce.^(Etymonline) It is also used as an emblem of the medical profession,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which Etymonline calls a confusion with the rod of Asclepius, which has a single serpent.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1577 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1591 – a herald's staff; the wand of Hermes.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by [[Hermes]] or [[Mercury]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An emblem modelled on Hermes' staff, used as a symbol of the medical profession.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[caducean]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[staff of Aesculapius]]

+ * [[herald]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to the ''staff of Aesculapius'', with which the caduceus is compared as a medical emblem.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}