Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A mythical serpent or winged creature having a head at each end of its body.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A fabulous venomous serpent supposed to have a head at each end and to be able to move in either direction.
- noun [capitalized] [NL.] A genus of lizards distinguished by the obtuseness of the head and tail, typical of the family Amphisbænidæ.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way.
- noun (Zoöl.) A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs, and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at each, and ability to move either way. See
Illustration in Appendix.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A mythical
serpent having a head at each end of its body, able to move in either direction. - noun zoology A genus of
lizards , native to the Americas, having extremities which are very similar.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (classical mythology) a serpent with a head at each end of its body
- noun type genus of the Amphisbaenidae
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The amphisbaena is a two-headed lizard or serpent.
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The amphisbaena is a two-headed lizard or serpent.
Archive 2007-10-01 2007
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As bestiary.ca notes, the term "amphisbaena" is now applied to a group of reptiles, the so-called "worm lizards".
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Pliny the Elder was clearly terrified of it, stating, "The amphisbaena has a twin head, that is one at the tail-end as well, as though it were not enough for poison to be poured out of one mouth."
Archive 2007-10-01 2007
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Pliny the Elder was clearly terrified of it, stating, "The amphisbaena has a twin head, that is one at the tail-end as well, as though it were not enough for poison to be poured out of one mouth."
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It is probable, however, that the amphisbaena takes up its abode in the nest for the convenience of devouring the inhabitants, whenever unable to procure other food.
The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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A curious snake, with something the character of the English slow-worm, the amphisbaena -- called by the natives Mai das Saubas, or the mother of the saubas -- is frequently found in these mounds.
The Western World Picturesque Sketches of Nature and Natural History in North and South America William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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They have here also the amphisbaena, or two-headed snake, of a grey colour, mixed with blackish stripes, whose bite is reckoned to be incurable.
A Voyage to New Holland William Dampier 1683
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-. (building) with columns at each end but not at sides. amphisbaena
xml's Blinklist.com 2008
chained_bear commented on the word amphisbaena
"'In an early bestiary,' said Stephen after a long pause, 'an antiquarian of my acquaintance once showed me a picture of an amphisbaena, a serpent with a head at each end. I forget its moral significance but I do remember its form...'"
—P. O'Brian, The Hundred Days, 131
March 25, 2008
sionnach commented on the word amphisbaena
AMPHISBAENA: a serpent with two heads, one in front and one at the tail. Thus it is able to slither in either direction with equal ease. Its eyes shine like lamps.
January 12, 2009
bilby commented on the word amphisbaena
But if it has a head at the tail, doesn't that mean it hasn't a tail?
January 12, 2009
sionnach commented on the word amphisbaena
I dunno. Maybe we should ask oroboros.
January 12, 2009
jmjarmstrong commented on the word amphisbaena
JM reckons an amphisbaena wouldn't know if it's coming or going.
October 26, 2010