from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Chimera \Chime"ra\, n.; pl. {Chimeras}. [L. chimaera a chimera
(in sense 1), Gr. ? a she-goat, a chimera, fr. ? he-goat; cf.
Icel. qymbr a yearling ewe.]
1. (Myth.) A monster represented as vomiting flames, and as
having the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the
tail of a dragon. "Dire chimeras and enchanted isles."
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the
imagination; as, the chimera of an author. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]