manticore

From Latin mantichōras, from Ancient Greek μαντιχώρας (mantikhṓras), μαρτιχόρας (martikhóras), μαρτιοχώρας (martiokhṓras, “man-eater; tiger”), from Old Persian *𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎹-𐎧𐎺𐎠𐎼 (*martiya-χvāra, “man-eater”). See Old Persian 𐎶𐎼𐎫𐎡𐎹 (martiya).

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈmæntɪˌkɔɹ/
• Hyphenation: man‧ti‧core

manticore (plural manticores)

1. (Greek mythology) A beast with the body of a lion (usually red), the tail of a scorpion, and the head/face of a man with a mouth filled with multiple rows of sharp teeth (like a shark), said to be able to shoot spikes from its tail or mane to paralyse prey. It may be horned, winged, or both; its voice is described as a mixture of pipes and trumpets.

• Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “manticore”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

• cremation, crotamine

• IPA^(key): /mɑ̃.ti.kɔʁ/

manticore f (plural manticores)

1. manticore