: a serpent in classical mythology having a head at each end and capable of moving in either direction

: a serpent in classical mythology having a head at each end and capable of moving in either direction

: a serpent in classical mythology having a head at each end and capable of moving in either direction

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History and Etymology for amphisbaena

Middle English amphibaena, borrowed from Latin amphisbaena, borrowed from Greek amphísbaina, from amphís "on both sides" (adverbial derivative of amphí "around, about") + -baina, a conflation of the present stem of baínein "to go, step" and the suffix -aina of animal names (as mýraina "moray eel," drákaina "she-dragon") — more at ambient entry 1, come entry 1