1.
2.
3.
[syn: poker, stove poker, fire hook, salamander]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Salamander \Sal"a*man`der\, n. [F. salamandre, L. salamandra,
Gr. ?; cf. Per. samander, samandel.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Urodela, belonging
to Salamandra, Amblystoma, Plethodon, and various
allied genera, especially those that are more or less
terrestrial in their habits.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The salamanders have, like lizards, an elongated body,
four feet, and a long tail, but are destitute of
scales. They are true Amphibia, related to the frogs.
Formerly, it was a superstition that the salamander
could live in fire without harm, and even extinguish it
by the natural coldness of its body.
[1913 Webster]
I have maintained that salamander of yours with
fire any time this two and thirty years. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Whereas it is commonly said that a salamander
extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience
that on hot coals, it dieth immediately. --Sir T.
Browne.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) The pouched gopher (Geomys tuza) of the Southern
United States.
[1913 Webster]
3. A culinary utensil of metal with a plate or disk which is
heated, and held over pastry, etc., to brown it.
[1913 Webster]
4. A large poker. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Metal.) Solidified material in a furnace hearth.
[1913 Webster]
Giant salamander. (Zool.) See under Giant.
Salamander's hair or Salamander's wool (Min.), a species
of asbestos or mineral flax. [Obs.] --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
salamander
n 1: any of various typically terrestrial amphibians that
resemble lizards and that return to water only to breed
2: reptilian creature supposed to live in fire
3: fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to
stir a fire [syn: poker, stove poker, fire hook,
salamander]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
43 Moby Thesaurus words for "salamander":
amphibian, andiron, batrachian, bullfrog, chain, coal tongs, crane,
croaker, crook, damper, elemental, elemental spirit, fire hook,
fire tongs, firedog, frog, gnome, grate, grating, grid, griddle,
gridiron, grill, griller, hoppytoad, hoptoad, lifter, newt,
paddock, poker, polliwog, pothook, spit, sylph, tadpole, toad,
tongs, tree frog, tree toad, tripod, trivet, turnspit, undine
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):
SALAMANDER, n. Originally a reptile inhabiting fire; later, an
anthropomorphous immortal, but still a pyrophile. Salamanders are now
believed to be extinct, the last one of which we have an account
having been seen in Carcassonne by the Abbe Belloc, who exorcised it
with a bucket of holy water.