Edit page | Page history | Printable version

wivern

1. A fabulous two-legged, winged creature, like a cockatrice, but having the head of a dragon, and without spurs.

Alternative forms: wyvern] The jargon of heraldry, its griffins, its mold warps, its wiverns, and its dragons. (Sir W. Scott)

2. (Science: zoology) The weever.

Origin: OE. Wivere a serpent, OF. Wivre, guivre, F. Givre, guivre, wiver, from L. Vipera; probably influenced by OHG. Wipera, from the Latin. See Viper, and cf. Weever.