salamander

English salamander comes from Middle English salamandre, from Anglo-Norman salamandre, from Latin salamandra, from Ancient Greek σαλαμάνδρα (salamándra). The Greek word's origin is uncertain — scholars like Beekes suspect it's Pre-Greek, and some have proposed an Iranian source, pointing to Persian سمندر (samandar).

The facts don't show the word's meaning shifting — it seems to have named this same creature all the way from Greek through Latin and French into English.

Persian سمندر (samandar) has been suggested as a possible relative or source, though the connection to Greek σαλαμάνδρα remains uncertain rather than confirmed.