(Chinesemythology) A mythological creature which is said to be a hybrid of lion and dragon and likes to sit down. It is one of the nine sons of the dragon.
Etymology
An imported word from the Western Regions, derived from a word in a source languages meaning “lion”.
The use of 狻猊 (OC *swar ŋe) possibly predates that of 獅 (OC *sri, “lion”) and the two are undoubtedly related. Compare Khotanesesarau(“lion”). Bailey (1979):
Sogdian of the Buddhist texts šrγω, gen. sing. šrγωy. Sogdian of the Manichean texts šrωγ, Middle Parthian of Turfan šgr, šgr-z‘dg (“cub of lion”). Middle Persian šgr ... Here sarau is from *sarāva- but, since -g- is absent in mura- 'bird' < mr̥ga-, it would be possible to trace sarau to *sargāva- and so to base sar-g-, as for Sogdian and M.Parthian.