salamander

Meanings

Noun

• A long, slender, chiefly terrestrial amphibian of the order Caudata, superficially resembling a lizard.
• A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire (in which it is often depicted in heraldry), hence the elemental being of fire.
• A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top.
• A small broiler (North America) or grill (Britain) that heats the food from above, used in professional cookery primarily for browning.
• The pouched gopher, Geomys tuza (species), of the southern United States.
• A large poker.
• Solidified material in a furnace hearth.
• A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction.
• A fire-eater .

Verb

• To use a salamander (cooking utensil) in a cooking process.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• ask
• eft
• newt
• siredon

Broader meaning words

• caudatan, urodelan

Origin

• From Middle English salamandre, from Anglo-Norman salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Ancient Greek σαλαμάνδρα, of uncertain origin (per Beekes, likely Pre-Greek); possibly of Iranian origin, see Persian سمندر for more information.