giant salamander



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Giant \Gi"ant\, a.
   Like a giant; extraordinary in size, strength, or power; as,
   giant brothers; a giant son.
   [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]
.



From 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]














Feedback Form