serpent : Idioms & Phrases

• (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a combustible white substance which in burning gives off a poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is employed as a scientific toy.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance.

Webster 1913

• noun huge creature of the sea resembling a snake or dragon
  

WordNet

Sea" ser`pent

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) Any marine snake. See Sea snake.
2. (Zoöl.) A large marine animal of unknown nature, often reported to have been seen at sea, but never yet captured. ✍ Many accounts of sea serpents are imaginary or fictitious; others are greatly exaggerated and distorted by incompetent observers; but a number have been given by competent and trustworthy persons, which indicate that several diverse animals have been called sea serpents. Among these are, apparently, several large snakelike fishes, as the oar fish, or ribbon fish (Regalecus), and huge conger eels. Other accounts probably refer to the giant squids (Architeuthis). Some of the best accounts seem to describe a marine saurian, like the fossil Mosasauri, which were large serpentlike creatures with paddles.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes colubrina; also, the plant itself.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera Circaëtus and Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is Circaëtus Gallicus.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird . (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor.

Webster 1913

• noun tropical American fern with brown scaly rhizomes cultivated for its large deeply lobed deep bluish-green fronds; sometimes placed in genus Polypodium
  Phlebodium aureum; Polypodium aureum; golden polypody; rabbit's-foot fern.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise.

Webster 1913

• noun an animal resembling a starfish with fragile whiplike arms radiating from a small central disc
  brittle-star; brittle star.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), an ophiuran; a brittle star.

Webster 1913

• (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant (Aristolochia odoratissima).

Webster 1913

• (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.

Webster 1913

Ser"pent-tongued` adjective

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) Having a forked tongue, like a serpent.

Webster 1913

• noun the worship of snakes
  ophiolatry.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a tree snake.
• (Zoöl.), any species of African serpents belonging to the family Dendrophidæ.

Webster 1913