staff of Asclepius

noun phrase

staff of As·​cle·​pi·​us -ˌa-ˈsklē-pē-əs How to pronounce staff of Asclepius (audio)
variants or staff of Aesculapius
: a conventionalized representation of a staff branched at the top with a single snake twined around it that is used as a symbol of medicine and as the official insignia of the American Medical Association

called also rod of Asclepius, rod of Aesculapius

compare caduceus sense 2a

Word History

Etymology

after Aesculapius, Greco-Roman god of medicine, from Latin, from Greek Asklēpios

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of staff of Asclepius was in 1673

Dictionary Entries Near staff of Asclepius

Cite this Entry

“Staff of Asclepius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staff%20of%20Asclepius. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

staff of Asclepius

noun
staff of As·​cle·​pi·​us -ˌa-ˈsklē-pē-əs How to pronounce staff of Asclepius (audio)
variants or staff of Aesculapius
: a conventionalized representation of a staff branched at the top with a single snake twined around it that is used as a symbol of medicine and as the official insignia of the American Medical Association

called also rod of Asclepius, rod of Aesculapius

compare caduceus sense a
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