Wyverns And Dragons Aren't The Same

[wiltsman]

On The Chase tonight the question was asked, 'The flag of Wessex depicts which winged creature?'

The team gave the incorrect answer, 'Dragon'. This was accepted as correct by Bradley Walsh who added that it was also known as a 'Wyvern'.

As a man of Wessex I know that a Wyvern is definitely not a Dragon!

I credit Google for the folllowing explanation:
The term "wyvern" descends from the Latin word for "viper", "adder" or "asp," according to the Oxford English Dictionary, while "dragon" descends from the Latin term for "huge serpent."
Though similar, these are intended to be distinguished as separate types of creatures, and aren't synonymous with one another.
Since the sixteenth century, in English, Scottish, and Irish heraldry, heraldic wyverns are defined as distinct entities from heraldic dragons. The key difference has been that a wyvern has two legs, whereas a dragon has four.

Oh, this is AnswerBank, isn't it? So I've got to ask a question. Here it is, does anyone disagreee? Sorry it's not a political question.

[DTCwordfan]

And what about Griffins?

Loved the comment about that woman being from Ilford and thinking that 'Lakeside' was a National Park.....priceless!

[jno]

wyverns don't breathe fire. But Linnaeus might well have considered them to be related, as apes are to humans.

Militarily, dragoons are so named because they used to carve dragons on their guns so they looked as if they were belching fire..

[mallyh]

Wikipedia says it's a type of dragon x

[wiltsman]

Griffins aren't from these parts DTC. I expect you know they're Greek mythological creatures, having the head on an eagle, and the body of a lion.

[Atheist]

Why is any sane person worrying about the definition of Wyvern and dragon?

[DTCwordfan]

wilkipedia definition, 'The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: γρύψ, gryps; Classical Latin: grȳps or grȳpus;[1] Late and Medieval Latin:[2] gryphes, grypho etc.; Old French: griffon) is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet.'

It comes across as being wyvern-eqsue to me or, at a pinch, even a dragon...

[wiltsman]

mallyh - what does Wikipedia know ..... lol.

[DTCwordfan]

Nope but then they reckoned that the Greeks tried to nick our tin and copper from down here well before those Roman latinos.

[Arksided]

I agree Atheist, why indeed he should try existing in West Yorkshire as a Vampire with all those bloomin' werewolves about.

[DTCwordfan]

And why aren't Man U and Man C the same, they're both football clubs and from Manchester..... I'll get my coat!

[wiltsman]

Atheist 18.57 - Why does any sane person write some of the rubbish on here, pretending they know everything about every political party in this country? I just don't comment on some of these deluded individuals.

And who said I was worrying about Wyverns and Dragons, I was just asking a light hearted question. I see you've replied to 8368 questions before you answered mine, and you're a sane person, aren't you?

[Arksided]

Soap and a big bucket of water for DTC. ;-)

[Atheist]

Have a nice evening, Witsman.

[wiltsman]

And the same to you Atheist.

[Old_Geezer]

They are different, but clearly a related fictional species.

[Atheist]

Thanks Wilts. Nice to know you are monitoring my stats.

[DTCwordfan]

I need a shower, Arksided - it's humid here in God's Own Country....

[Arksided]

It is indeed DTC.

[wiltsman]

Atheist 19.27
I use AB sparingly, and I don't need comments about my sanity. Other ABers have made interesting replies to my post, which was my hope. I've learned a few things tonight.
I know I'll never be able to run this country like a lot of others on this site, but I know my place.

[jourdain2]

wiltsman, I see that you are from Wessex and so there is possibly a clarity in the local viewpoint that sets it apart from the commonality. (I'm Yorkshire & the same sort of thing happens to me.)
T.B.H. I have always thought of Wyverns as a sub-species of a dragon. Specifically a much smaller version.

I think you have the right attitude to AB - join in more often, please. It rambles all over the place. :)

That does tend to correspond with a viper being a small serpent whilst a dragon is a huge one - with associated differences.

Thanks for your question, it did enliven the evening!