Manticore

/ˈmæntɪkɔːr/ noun

Definition

A legendary monster from mythology with a human head, a lion's body, and a scorpion tail, often depicted as evil.

Etymology

From Greek 'mantichoras,' possibly from Persian 'manthichoras' (man-eater). Medieval European writers incorporated it into bestiaries and fantasy literature.

Kelly Says

The manticore appears in medieval fantasy so much that most people think it's European, but it actually came from Persian mythology—and it might have been inspired by travelers' exaggerated stories about actual big cats!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.