sal|a|man|der

sal|a|man|der «SAL uh _MAN duhr», noun.

1. a coldblooded animal shaped like a lizard but belonging to the same class as frogs and toads, such as the mud puppy of North America. Salamanders have moist, scaleless skin, four short legs, and usually a long tail. The larvae, as well as some adults, breathe by gills. Salamanders live in water or in damp places.

2. a legendary lizard or reptile supposed to live in or be able to endure fire.

3. Figurative. a person who likes or can stand a great deal of heat.

4. a spirit or imaginary being supposed to live in fire (originally hypothesized by Paracelsus as inhabiting fire, one of the four elements).

5. any one of various articles formerly used in connection with fire or capable of withstanding great heat, such as an iron or poker formerly used for lighting a pipe or igniting gunpowder or a plate used for browning puddings: »

Press them tight into shells or a dish, and brown them with a salamander (Sunday Times).

╂[< Old French salamandre < Latin salamandra < Greek salamándra]