caduceus

Meaning

Noun

• The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it.
• A symbol () representing a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, used to indicate merchants and messengers. It is also sometimes incorrectly used as a symbol of medicine.

Origin

• Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον. This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον are derived from κῆρυξ. Related to κηρύσσω.