Wyverns

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A legendary creature typically depicted as a dragon with two legs and wings, known for its fierce appearance and often associated with folklore
2. A mythological beast resembling a dragon, characterized by a serpentine body, a pair of wings, and the ability to fly
3. Often represented in heraldry, this winged reptilian entity is known for its distinct two-legged form and is part of various myths and legends

Etymology: "Wyverns" is the plural of "wyvern," a word whose ancestry points to a snake rather than a dragon. It descends from Latin "vipera," meaning viper, passed through Old French "guivre," meaning serpent. English borrowed the creature's name in the late 14th century, when it described a winged dragon with two legs. Heralds later gave the beast its best-known setting. They used it to distinguish the two-legged winged creature from the four-legged dragon on coats of arms, and it still appears on the badges of families and towns across Britain and Europe.

Synonyms: dragon, serpent, beast