·noun 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.
cādūceus ī, m , κηρύκειον, a herald's staff (orig. an olive branch), the token of a peaceful embass...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary