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These are definitions of dragon, and related words, from various English
language dictionaries. The date each dictionary was printed, country of origin
and the type of dictionary are listed for each one.
The dictionaries on this page are:
These common abbreviations are to help understand the dictionary entries:
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| a. |
adjective |
| adjs. |
adjectives |
| c. |
circa |
| cf. |
compare |
| colloq. |
colloquial |
| f. |
from |
| Gk |
Greek (Classical, unless specified otherwise) |
| Her. |
heraldry |
| L |
Latin (Classical, unless specified otherwise) |
| ME |
Middle English |
| OF |
Old French |
| usu. |
usually |
| v.t. |
transitive verb |
Collins Gem English Dictionary
Date of Printing: 1990
Country of Origin: Britain
Type: Pocket Dictionary
Words Found: dragon.
drag'on n. mythical fire-breathing monster; like winged crocodile;
type of large lizard -drag'onfly n. long-bodied insect with gauzy wings
The Complete Oxford Dictionary
Date of Printing:
Country of Origin: Britain
Type: Complete Dictionary
Words Found: dragon.
Due to the length and complexity of these dictionary entries, most of the
detailed information on origins and examples has been removed, to leave the
pure definitions.
dragon 1. A huge serpent or snake; a python. Obs. (exc. in
etymol. use).
2. a. A mythical monster, represented as a huge and terrible reptile,
usually combining ophidian and crocodilian structure, with strong claws,
like a beast or bird of prey, and a scaly skin; it is generally represented
with wings, and sometimes as breathing out fire. The heraldic dragon combines
reptillian and mammalian form with the addition of wings. b. Hence
frequent allusions to ancient and medieval tales of dragons, as those which
watchfully guarded the Gardens of the Hesperides, those which drew the chariot
of Cynthia or the moon, those fought and slain by Beowulf, St. George, and
other champions. c. like a dragon: fiercely, violently.
3. In the Bible versions reproducing draco of the Vulgate and
Spakwv of the Septuagint, where the Hebrew has (a) tannin a great
sea- or water-monster, a whale, shark, or crocodile, also a large serpent;
or (b) tan a desert mammalian animal, now understood to be a jackal,
and so rendered in the Revised Version.
4. a. An appellation of Satan, the 'Old Serpent'. b.
transf. A devilish person; a 'fiend'. c. An evil power embodied.
rare.
5. An appellation of Death. arch.
6. A fierce violent person; esp. a fiercely or agressively
watchful woman; a duenna.
7. a. A representation or figure of the mythical creature. b.
An ensign or standard, having the figure of a dragon. Obs. c.
dragon china, a kind of porcelain decorated with designs of dragons.
d. to chase the dragon (slang): to take heroin by inhalation
(see quot. 1961).
8. Astron. a. A northern constellation, Draco.
b. The part of the moon's path which lies south of the ecliptic: see
DRAGON'S HEAD, TAIL. Obs. c.
Applied to a shooting star with a luminous train. Obs. Cf.
DRAKE1 2.
9. A paper kite. [Ger. drache.] Sc.
10. a. An early fire-arm; = DRAGOON 1.
Obs. b. A soldier armed with this; = DRAGOON
2. Obs. c. A very powerful armoured tractor.
11. Zool. A lizard of the genus Draco, having on each
flank a broad wing-like membrane, which enables it to leap some distance
in the air.
12. Ichthyol. (Also dragon-fish.) a.
=DRAGONET 2. b. The ANGLER,
Lophius (obs.).
13. A fancy variety of pigeon; = DRAGOON sb. 3.
14. (Also green dragon.) The plant Dracunculus vulgaris
(formerly Arum Dracunculus); =DRAGONS;
DRAGONWORT. Also applied to species of
Dracontium.
15. A disease of the eye of the horse; see quots.
16. (Also dragon cane): see quot.
17. slang. A sovereign: from the device of St. George and the
Dragon.
18. attrib. or as adj. Of or as of a dragon, of the
nature of a dragon; dragon-like, dragonish. dragon boat =
DRAKE1 5.
19. General Combs.: a. attributive, as dragon-bought, -coil, -face, -feet,
-hame (covering), -hole, -killer, -kind, -legend, -mail, -race, -scale, -seed,
tooth (see 21 b), -whelp, -womb,; b. similative, as dragon-green adj.; c.
instrumental, as dragon guarded, -ridden, -wardered adjs.; d. parasynthetic,
as dragon-eyed, -mouthed, -penned, -winged, adjs.; also dragon-like adj and
adv.
[Unfinished]
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English: Sixth
Edition
Date of Printing: 1977
Country of Origin: Britain
Type: Concise Dictionary
Words Found: dragon; wyvern.
drag'on n. 1. Mythical monster like reptile, usu. with
wings and claws and often breathing fire; (w. allus. to legends) watchful
guardian of treasure etc.; fierce person; the (old) D~, Satan; lizard
of genus Draco with winglike structures; KOMODO
dragon. 2. ~-fly, neuropterous insect with long slender body
and two pairs of large wings usu. spread while resting; ~'s blood,
red gum that exudes from fruit of some palms, esp. ~-tree (Dracaena
draco); ~'s teeth, (colloq.) anti-tank etc. obstacles resembling
teeth pointed upwards. [ME f. OF, f. L draco -onis f. Gk
drakon]
wy'vern n. (Her.) Winged two-legged dragon with barbed tail.
[f. ME wyver, f. OF wivre, guivre, f. L vipera;
for -n cf. BITTERN]
The Diamond Dictionary
Date of Printing: No Official Date - 1937 or Before
Country of Origin: Britain
Type: Pocket Dictionary
Words Found: Dragon.
Drag'on n. a fabulous fire-breathing monster, like a winged
crocodile. -drag'onfly n. a long-bodied insect with large gauzy
wings. -dragoon' n. a cavalryman, usually of heavy cavalry.
-v.t. to subject to military oppression; domineer over, persecute.
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