(a) A fabulous single-horned animal to which was generally attributed a fierce disposition and certain magical abilities; any one-horned, or apparently one-horned, animal, esp. the rhinoceros; also in fig. context; (b) fig. the wrath of God, represented as a beast tamed by a virgin; also, Christ; (c) a stylized unicorn used for ornament; also used in heraldry; ~ hed; (d) in metaphors and similes; also as a type or symbol of wrath [quot. c1230, 2nd]; (e) ~ horn, unicornes horn (bon), a precious material believed taken from the horn of a unicorn, prob. ivory from a narwhale, often inlaid in drinking vessels as protection against poisoning.