Defn: The official staff or wand of Hermes or Mercury, the messenger of the gods. It was originally said to be a herald's staff of olive wood, but was afterwards fabled to have two serpents coiled about it, and two wings at the top.
CADUCIBRANCHIATE Ca*du`ci*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [L. caducus falling (fr. cadere to fall) + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: With temporary gills: — applied to those Amphibia in which the gills do not remain in adult life.
CADUCITY
Ca*du"ci*ty, n. Etym: [LL. caducitas: cf. F. caducité. See Caducous.]
Defn: Tendency to fall; the feebleness of old age; senility. [R.]
[A] jumble of youth and caducity. Chesterfield.
CADUCOUS Ca*du"cous, Etym: [L. caducus falling, inclined to fall, fr. cadere to fall. See Cadence.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Dropping off or disappearing early, as the calyx of a poppy, or the gills of a tadpole.
CADUKE
Ca*duke", a. Etym: [Cf. F. caduc. See Caducous.]
Defn: Perishable; frail; transitory. [Obs.] Hickes.
The caduke pleasures of his world. Bp. Fisher.
CADY
Cad"y, n.