n.1 a mythical monster like a reptile, usu. with wings and claws and able to breathe out fire.
2 a fierce person, esp. a woman.
3 (in full flying dragon) a lizard, Draco volans, with a long tail and membranous winglike structures. Also called flying lizard.
Phrases and idioms:
dragon's blood a red gum that exudes from the fruit of some palms and the dragon-tree. dragon's teeth Mil. colloq. obstacles resembling teeth pointed upwards, used esp. against tanks. dragon-tree a tree, Dracaena draco, native to the Canary Isles.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L draco -onis f. Gk drakon serpent