prester

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

prēster, ēris, m., = πρηστήρ [burning].

I A fiery whirlwind , which descends in the form of a pillar of fire, a water-spout , sand-spout : presteras Graici quos ab re nominitarunt, etc., Lucr. 6, 424: turbo ardentior accensusque dum furit, prester vocatur, amburens contacta pariter, et proterens, Plin. 2, 48, 50, § 133: spiritus cum majore vi torti sunt, fit procella terrestris, et a Graecis prester nomen accepit, App. de Mundo, p. 62 fin.

II A kind of serpent , whose bite causes a burning thirst: prester quem percusserit, distenditur, enormique corpulentiā necatur extuberatus, Sol. 27, 32: torridus prester, Luc. 9, 791; Plin. 20, 20, 81 § 210; 24, 13, 73, § 117.

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