E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fire-drake or Fire-dragon.
A fiery serpent, an ignis-fatuus of large proportions, superstitiously believed to be a flying dragon keeping guard over hid treasures.
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“There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o’ my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in s nose… . That fire-drake did I hit three times on the head.”—Shakespeare: Henry VIII., v. 3.
