water moccasin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun venomous semiaquatic snake of swamps in southern United States
    cottonmouth moccasin; cottonmouth; Agkistrodon piscivorus.
  2. noun any of numerous North American water snakes inhabiting fresh waters

WordNet

Wa"ter moc"ca*sin
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A venomous North American snake (Ancistrodon piscivorus) allied to the rattlesnake but destitute of a rattle. It lives in or about pools and ponds, and feeds largely of fishes. Called also water snake, water adder, water viper. called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin, and cottonmouth water moccasin.

Webster 1913