Swilling martinis and spewing venom, Phyllis is a particularly unappetizing gorgon, telling us at one point that an acquaintance of hers is aroused by the Heimlich maneuver. — Washington Post, July 1, 2005.
{i} any of three monster sisters who have snakes for hair and can transform beholders to stone (Greek Mythology); woman considered to be ugly or frightening
One of three monsters in Greek mythology, the most famous of which was Medusa. According to Hesiod, the three Gorgons were daughters of the sea god Phorcys. Another tradition held that they were created by the earth goddess, Gaea, to aid her sons, the Titans, in their struggle with the gods. Classical art depicts them as winged females with snakes for hair
(Greek mythology) any of three winged sister monsters and the mortal Medusa who had live snakes for hair; a glance at Medusa turned the beholder to stone