salamanders

Noun

salamander (countable and uncountable, plural salamanders)

1. A long, slender, chiefly terrestrial amphibian of the order Caudata, superficially resembling a lizard.
   • […]and most plainly Pierius, whose words in his hieroglyphicks are these: "Whereas it is commonly said that a salamander extinguisheth fire, we have found by experience that it is so far from quenching hot coals, that it dyeth immediately therein."1672, Thomas Browne, “Pseudodoxia Epidemica”, in Simon Wilkin, editor, The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, volume 1, published 1852, page 292
2. A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire (in which it is often depicted in heraldry), hence the elemental being of fire.
   • “Not a chance, Ranger,” Bob Mason was speaking. “This little cuss is a salamander. He's been travelling through fire all day and there isn't a blister on him. …”1920, Peter B. Kyne, chapter XI, in The Understanding Heart
3. A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top.
   • The salamander, a fairly long metal utensil with a flat rounded head, was left in the fire until red hot and then used to brown the top of a dish without further cooking.1977, Richard Daunton-Fear, Penelope Vigar, Australian Colonial Cookery (discussing 19th century cookery), Rigby, 1977, page 41
4. A small broiler (North America) or grill (Britain) that heats the food from above, used in professional cookery primarily for browning.
   • The chef first put the steak under the salamander to sear the outside.
5. (archaic) A pouched gopher (Geomys pinetis etc.)
6. (UK, obsolete) A large poker.
   • Multitudes had little Tin Kettles in their Houses, with Small-coal kindled, to light their Pipes withal; though in some places they use Candles, in others Salamanders1698, William King, A journey to London […] , translation of original by Samuel Sorbière

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