— caducean , adj.
/keuh dooh"see euhs, -syoohs, -sheuhs, -dyooh"-/ , n. , pl. caducei /-see uy'/ .
1. Class. Myth. the staff carried by Mercury as messenger of the gods.
2. a representation of this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession and as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Cf. staff of Aesculapius .
[ 1585-95; karýkeion herald's staff, equiv. to karyk- (s. of kâryx ) herald + -eion, neut. of -eios adj. suffix ]