salamander

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}]
    

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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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.
    

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