Giant salamander

giant salamander
    n 1: large (up to more than three feet) edible salamander of
         Asia [syn: {giant salamander}, {Megalobatrachus maximus}]
    

Giant \Gi"ant\, a.
   Like a giant; extraordinary in size, strength, or power; as,
   giant brothers; a giant son.
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   {Giant cell}. (Anat.) See {Myeloplax}.

   {Giant clam} (Zool.), a bivalve shell of the genus
      {Tridacna}, esp. {T. gigas}, which sometimes weighs 500
      pounds. The shells are sometimes used in churches to
      contain holy water.

   {Giant heron} (Zool.), a very large African heron ({Ardeomega
      goliath}). It is the largest heron known.

   {Giant kettle}, a pothole of very large dimensions, as found
      in Norway in connection with glaciers. See {Pothole}.

   {Giant powder}. See {Nitroglycerin}.

   {Giant puffball} (Bot.), a fungus ({Lycoperdon giganteum}),
      edible when young, and when dried used for stanching
      wounds.

   {Giant salamander} (Zool.), a very large aquatic salamander
      ({Megalobatrachus maximus}), found in Japan. It is the
      largest of living Amphibia, becoming a yard long.

   {Giant squid} (Zool.), one of several species of very large
      squids, belonging to {Architeuthis} and allied genera.
      Some are over forty feet long.
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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.
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   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.
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               I have maintained that salamander of yours with
               fire any time this two and thirty years. --Shak.
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               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.
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   2. (Zool.) The pouched gopher ({Geomys tuza}) of the Southern
      United States.
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   3. A culinary utensil of metal with a plate or disk which is
      heated, and held over pastry, etc., to brown it.
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   4. A large poker. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
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   5. (Metal.) Solidified material in a furnace hearth.
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   {Giant salamander}. (Zool.) See under {Giant}.

   {Salamander's hair} or {Salamander's wool} (Min.), a species
      of asbestos or mineral flax. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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