guivre

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English

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The arms of the Bertereche de Menditte family depict both kinds of guivres.

Noun

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guivre (plural guivres)

  1. (heraldry, mythology) A serpentine creature, variously one with no limbs (like a simple snake, but often depicted swallowing someone), or with wings and only two legs (a wyvern).
    • 1984, Dragons, Time Life Medical:
      The guivre / The legless and wingless guivre would have seemed a mere serpent, albeit an immensely powerful one, except for its massive dragon head, horned and bearded. Guivres liked to live in forests and wells—anywhere near water []


French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Old French guivre (whence also vouivre), from Latin vīpera. Related to English wyvern.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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guivre f (plural guivres)

  1. (heraldry, mythology) a guivre (seprentine creature, variously limbless or winged and two-legged)

References

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