Pixiu

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /piːˈʃjəʊ/

Definitions

1. A legendary being in Chinese myth, often depicted with a lion or dragon appearance, believed to attract wealth while providing protection against misfortune and evil energies
2. A mythical creature in Chinese folklore resembling a cross between a lion and a dragon, often symbolizing the attraction of wealth and the warding off of negative energies
3. This legendary entity from Chinese traditions features traits of both lion and dragon, serving as a charm for wealth and a safeguard against bad luck

Etymology: The creature's name is written with two characters, 貔 and 貅, and in English it arrived only as a transliteration of its Mandarin pronunciation, "píxiū." Speakers of English adopted the sound rather than translating the picture, so the word tells you nothing about the animal's appearance on its own; the meaning has to come from the Chinese tradition it was borrowed from. Pixiu are fierce, winged, lion-like beasts that appear in Chinese art and folklore as guardians against misfortune. Their traditional appeal is that they take in wealth without ever letting anything out, which is why they are often placed at doorways, in shops and in banks as protective emblems.