salamander

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
salamander /ˈsaləˌmandə/

▶noun

• 1 a long-tailed amphibian resembling a newt and typically having bright markings. [Order Urodela: many species.]

• 2 a mythical lizard-like creature said to live in fire or to be able to withstand its effects.

  ■ an elemental spirit living in fire.

• 3 a metal plate heated and placed over food to brown it.

• 4 archaic a red-hot iron or poker.

– derivatives
salamandrine /-ˈmandrɪn/ adjective.

– origin ME (in sense 2): from OFr. salamandre, via L. from Gk salamandra.