chimera/chimaera- Greek myth- a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent; a grotesque product of the imagination
- from Greek khimaira- she goat
As a common name 'chimera' is used by Milton to denote a terrible monster, and is now current (in an age which rejects such fabulous creatures) in the sense of a wild fancy.
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