snake : Idioms & Phrases

• noun small widely distributed arboreal snake of southern Africa banded in black and orange
  Aspidelaps lubricus.
  

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• noun of India
  

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• noun small venomous but harmless snake marked with black-and-white on red
  Rhynchoelaps australis.
  

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• noun a sand snake of southwestern United States; lives in fine to coarse sand or loamy soil in which it `swims'; banding resembles that of coral snakes
  Chilomeniscus cinctus.
  

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• noun in some classifications placed in the genus Nerodia; western United States snake that seldom ventures far from water
  Nerodia sipedon; banded water snake; Natrix sipedon.
  

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• noun large harmless shiny black North American snake
  blacksnake; mountain blacksnake; Elaphe obsoleta; pilot blacksnake.
  

WordNet

Black" snake`, Black"snake noun (Also<

• Black snake
• Blacksnake

)

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A snake of a black color, of which two species are common in the United States, the Bascanium constrictor, or racer, sometimes six feet long, and the Scotophis Alleghaniensis, seven or eight feet long. ✍ The name is also applied to various other black serpents, as Natrix atra of Jamaica.

Webster 1913

• noun small secretive ground-living snake; found from central United States to Argentina
  

WordNet

• noun wormlike burrowing snake of warm regions having vestigial eyes
  blind snake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of the family Typhlopidæ, with rudimentary eyes.

Webster 1913

• etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several large harmless rodent-eating North American burrowing snakes
  bull snake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the pine snake of the United States.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several large harmless rodent-eating North American burrowing snakes
  bull snake.
  

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• noun Australian python with a variegated pattern on its back
  Morelia spilotes variegatus; Python variegatus.
  

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• (Zoöl.), an Australian snake. See Diamond snake, under Diamond.

Webster 1913

• noun large North American snake
  

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• noun a whipsnake of southern United States and Mexico; tail resembles a braided whip
  Masticophis flagellum; coachwhip.
  

WordNet

Coach"whip` snake"

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A large, slender, harmless snake of the southern United States (Masticophis flagelliformis). ✍ Its long and tapering tail has the scales so arranged and colored as to give it a braided appearance, whence the name.

Webster 1913

• noun mostly harmless temperate-to-tropical terrestrial or arboreal or aquatic snakes
  colubrid.
  

WordNet

• noun a garter snake that is widespread in North America
  Thamnophis sirtalis.
  

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• noun in some classifications placed in the genus Nerodia; western United States snake that seldom ventures far from water
  Nerodia sipedon; banded water snake; Natrix sipedon.
  

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• noun aquatic eel-shaped salamander having two pairs of very small feet; of still muddy waters in the southern United States
  congo eel; amphiuma; blind eel.
  

WordNet

Con"go snake"

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) An amphibian (Amphiuma means) of the order Urodela, found in the southern United States. See Amphiuma.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various venomous elapid snakes of Asia and Africa and Australia
  coral snake.
  
• noun any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white; widely distributed in South America and Central America
  coral snake; harlequin-snake.
  

WordNet

• . (Zo) (a) A small, venomous, Brazilian snake (Elaps corallinus), coral-red, with black bands. (b) A small, harmless, South American snake (Tortrix scytale).

Webster 1913

• noun large harmless snake of southeastern United States; often on farms
  Elaphe guttata; corn snake.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a harmless snake of Australia (Morelia spilotes); the carpet snake.

Webster 1913

• noun ranges from Central America to southeastern United States
  Micrurus fulvius.
  

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• noun in some classifications placed in genus Haldea; small reddish-grey snake of eastern North America
  Potamophis striatula; Haldea striatula.
  

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• noun a variety of indigo snake
  Drymarchon corais couperi.
  

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• noun any of numerous venomous fanged snakes of warmer parts of both hemispheres
  elapid.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a large African snake (Python Sebæ) used by the natives as a fetich.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous nonvenomous longitudinally-striped viviparous North American and Central American snakes
  garter snake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of several harmless American snakes of the genus Eutænia, of several species (esp. E. saurita and E. sirtalis); one of the striped snakes; so called from its conspicuous stripes of color.

Webster 1913

• noun snakelike lizard of Europe and Asia and North America with vestigial hind limbs and the ability to regenerate its long fragile tail
  glass lizard; glass snake.
  

WordNet

Glass"-snake` noun

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) A long, footless lizard (Ophiosaurus ventralis), of the Southern United States; -- so called from its fragility, the tail easily breaking into small pieces. It grows to the length of three feet. The name is applied also to similar species found in the Old World.

Webster 1913

• noun nocturnal burrowing snake of western United States with shiny tan scales
  Arizona elegans.
  

WordNet

• noun large dark-blue nonvenomous snake that invades burrows; found in southern North America and Mexico
  gopher snake; Drymarchon corais.
  
• noun bull snake of western North America that invades rodent burrows
  Pituophis melanoleucus.
  

WordNet

• noun harmless European snake with a bright yellow collar; common in England
  grass snake; ring snake; Natrix natrix.
  
• noun any of numerous nonvenomous longitudinally-striped viviparous North American and Central American snakes
  garter snake.
  
• noun either of two North American chiefly insectivorous snakes that are green in color
  grass snake.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The common English, or ringed, snake (Tropidonotus natrix). (b) The common green snake of the Northern United States. See Green snake, under Green.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous African colubrid snakes
  
• noun either of two North American chiefly insectivorous snakes that are green in color
  grass snake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), one of two harmless American snakes (Cyclophis vernalis, and C. æstivus). They are bright green in color.

Webster 1913

• noun small shy brightly-ringed terrestrial snake of arid or semiarid areas of western North America
  Sonora semiannulata.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small burrowing American snake (Celuta amoena). It is salmon colored, and has a blunt tail.

Webster 1913

• . See Gordius.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a small, poisonous snake (Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southern United States.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white; widely distributed in South America and Central America
  coral snake; harlequin-snake.
  

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• noun harmless North American snake with upturned nose; may spread its head and neck or play dead when disturbed
  puff adder; sand viper.
  

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• . See Cobra de capello, Asp, Haje, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various harmless North American snakes that were formerly believed to take tail in mouth and roll along like a hoop
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a harmless snake of the Southern United States (Abaster erythrogrammus); so called from the mistaken notion that it curves itself into a hoop, taking its tail into its mouth, and rolls along with great velocity.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the cerastes.

Webster 1913

• noun nonvenomous tan and brown king snake with an arrow-shaped occipital spot; southeastern ones have red stripes like coral snakes
  milk adder; checkered adder; house snake; Lampropeltis triangulum.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the milk snake.

Webster 1913

• noun enter buildings in pursuit of prey
  Ptyas mucosus.
  

WordNet

• noun large dark-blue nonvenomous snake that invades burrows; found in southern North America and Mexico
  gopher snake; Drymarchon corais.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the gopher snake.

Webster 1913

• noun snakelike lizard of Europe and Asia and North America with vestigial hind limbs and the ability to regenerate its long fragile tail
  glass lizard; glass snake.
  

WordNet

• noun any of numerous nonvenomous North American constrictors; feed on other snakes and small mammals
  kingsnake.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a large, nearly black, harmless snake (Ophiobolus getulus) of the Southern United States; so called because it kills and eats other kinds of snakes, including even the rattlesnake.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), the fer-de-lance.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various pale blotched snakes with a blunt snout of southwestern North America
  

WordNet

• noun secretive snake of city dumps and parks as well as prairies and open woods; feeds on earthworms; of central United States
  Tropidoclonion lineatum.
  

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• (Zoöl.), the garter snake (Eutænia sirtalis).

Webster 1913

• noun mildly venomous snake with a lyre-shaped mark on the head; found in rocky areas from southwestern United States to Central America
  

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• noun nonvenomous tan and brown king snake with an arrow-shaped occipital spot; southeastern ones have red stripes like coral snakes
  milk adder; checkered adder; house snake; Lampropeltis triangulum.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a harmless American snake (Ophibolus triangulus, or O. eximius). It is variously marked with white, gray, and red. Called also milk adder, chicken snake, house snake, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white; widely distributed in South America and Central America
  coral snake; harlequin-snake.
  

WordNet

• noun nocturnal prowler of western United States and Mexico
  Hypsiglena torquata.
  

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• noun any of various venomous elapid snakes of Asia and Africa and Australia
  coral snake.
  

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• (Zoöl.) (a) A large North American snake (Coluber obsoleus). It is lustrous black, with white edges to some of the scales. Called also mountain black snake. (b) The pine snake.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several bull snakes of eastern and southeastern United States found chiefly in pine woods; now threatened
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a large harmless North American snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). It is whitish, covered with brown blotches having black margins. Called also bull snake. The Western pine snake (P. Sayi) is chestnut-brown, mottled with black and orange.

Webster 1913

• noun a long flexible steel coil for dislodging stoppages in curved pipes
  auger.
  

WordNet

• a tool used in cleaning lithographic stones.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a large harmless American snake (Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged with brown above.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various nonvenomous rodent-eating snakes of North America and Asia
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a large colubrine snake (Ptyas mucosus) very common in India and Ceylon. It enters dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun large harmless snake of southeastern United States; often on farms
  Elaphe guttata; corn snake.
  

WordNet

• noun harmless woodland snake of southeastern United States
  Storeria occipitamaculata.
  

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• noun slender yellow-striped North American garter snake; prefers wet places
  Thamnophis sauritus.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a common North American snake (Eutainia saurita). It is conspicuously striped with bright yellow and dark brown.

Webster 1913

• noun harmless European snake with a bright yellow collar; common in England
  grass snake; ring snake; Natrix natrix.
  
• noun any of numerous small nonvenomous North American snakes with a yellow or orange ring around the neck
  ring-necked snake; ring snake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a small harmless American snake (Diadophis punctatus) having a white ring around the neck. The back is ash-colored, or sage green, the belly of an orange red.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous small nonvenomous North American snakes with a yellow or orange ring around the neck
  ring-necked snake; ring snake.
  

WordNet

• noun harmless European snake with a bright yellow collar; common in England
  grass snake; ring snake; Natrix natrix.
  

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• (Zoöl.), a harmless European snake (Tropidonotus natrix) common in England.
• (Zoöl.), a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix).

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous small nonvenomous North American snakes with a yellow or orange ring around the neck
  ring-necked snake; ring snake.
  

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• noun very large python of tropical and southern Africa
  Python sebae; rock python.
  

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• (Zoöl.), any one of several large pythons; as, the royal rock snake (Python regia) of Africa, and the rock snake of India (P. molurus). The Australian rock snakes mostly belong to the allied genus Morelia.

Webster 1913

• noun of southern and eastern United States
  Opheodrys aestivus.
  

WordNet

• noun small North American burrowing snake
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of harmless burrowing snakes of the genus Eryx, native of Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia, especially E. Jaculus of India and E. Johnii, used by snake charmers. (b) Any innocuous South African snake of the genus Psammophis, especially P. sibilans.

Webster 1913

• noun any of numerous venomous aquatic viviparous snakes having a fin-like tail; of warm littoral seas; feed on fish which they immobilize with quick-acting venom
  

WordNet

Sea" snake`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) Any one of many species of venomous aquatic snakes of the family Hydrophidæ, having a flattened tail and living entirely in the sea, especially in the warmer parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They feed upon fishes, and are mostly of moderate size, but some species become eight or ten feet long and four inches broad.

Webster 1913

• noun of western and central United States
  Opheodrys vernalis.
  

WordNet

• noun a performer who uses movements and music to control snakes
  

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• noun a group advancing in a single-file serpentine path
  
• noun a ceremonial dance (as by the Hopi) in which snakes are handled or invoked
  

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• noun slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
  dragonfly; snake doctor; sewing needle; mosquito hawk; skeeter hawk; devil's darning needle; darning needle.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The markhoor . (b) The secretary bird.

Webster 1913

• noun expressions used when when two dice are thrown and both come up showing one spot
  craps.
  

WordNet

• noun slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.
  dragonfly; snake doctor; sewing needle; mosquito hawk; skeeter hawk; devil's darning needle; darning needle.
  

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• noun rail fence consisting of a zigzag of interlocking rails
  snake fence; worm fence; Virginia fence.
  

WordNet

• a worm fence (which see). U.S.

Webster 1913

• noun tropical fern widespread in Old World; naturalized in Jamaica and Florida
  climbing maidenhair; climbing maidenhair fern; Lygodium microphyllum.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax.

Webster 1913

• noun a god of voodoo cults of African origin worshipped especially in West Indies
  zombie; zombi.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber.

Webster 1913

• noun a deceitful or treacherous person
  snake.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The secretary bird . (b) The chaparral cock.

Webster 1913

• noun predatory tropical fishes with jutting jaws and strong teeth
  Gempylus serpens.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium.

Webster 1913

• noun small slender burrowing muishond with white top of the head
  Poecilogale albinucha.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up.

Webster 1913

• noun (medicine) any of various liquids sold as medicine (as by a travelling medicine show) but medically worthless
  
• noun communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive
  humbug.
  

WordNet

• noun foul-smelling somewhat fleshy tropical plant of southeastern Asia cultivated for its edible corms or in the greenhouse for its large leaves and showy dark red spathe surrounding a large spadix
  umbrella arum; Amorphophallus rivieri; devil's tongue.
  

WordNet

• noun any place of pain and turmoil;
  the pits; hellhole; hell on earth; hell; inferno.
  
  • the hell of battle
  • the inferno of the engine room
  • when you're alone Christmas is the pits
• noun pejorative terms for an insane asylum
  crazy house; cuckoo's nest; Bedlam; loony bin; booby hatch; madhouse; nuthouse; funny farm; sanatorium; nut house; funny house.
  

WordNet

• noun stemless plant having narrow rigid leaves often cultivated as a houseplant
  Sansevieria trifasciata; mother-in-law's tongue.
  

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• noun epiphytic ferns with long rhizomes; tropical America
  Microgramma-piloselloides.
  

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• noun a tributary of the Columbia River that rises in Wyoming and flows westward; discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark Expedition
  Snake.
  

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• noun venom secreted by certain snakes
  

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• noun tropical American tree with large peltate leaves and hollow stems
  Cecropia peltata; imbauba; trumpetwood; trumpet tree; trumpet-wood.
  

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• noun Eurasian checkered lily with pendant flowers usually veined and checkered with purple or maroon on a pale ground and shaped like the bells carried by lepers in medieval times; widely grown as an ornamental
  guinea-hen flower; checkered daffodil; Fritillaria meleagris; leper lily.
  

WordNet

Snake's"-head` noun

Definitions

1. (Bot.) The Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. Dr. Prior.

Webster 1913

Snake's-tongue` noun

Definitions

1. (Bot.) Same as Adder's-tongue.

Webster 1913

• noun tropical fishes with large mouths in lizard-like heads; found worldwide
  lizardfish; snakefish.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite (of monsters) having snakes for hair
  

WordNet

• noun showy perennial of marshlands of eastern and central North America having waxy lanceolate leaves and flower with lower part creamy white and upper parts pale pink to deep purple
  Chelone glabra; shellflower; turtlehead; shell-flower; snakehead.
  

WordNet

• noun rail fence consisting of a zigzag of interlocking rails
  snake fence; worm fence; Virginia fence.
  

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• noun a board game for children who use dice to move counters up ladders and down snakes
  

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• noun of desert regions of southwestern North America
  Trimorphodon lambda.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the cobra de capello.

Webster 1913

• noun highly venomous snake of southern Africa able to spit venom up to seven feet
  ringhals; rinkhals; Hemachatus haemachatus.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the garter snake.

Webster 1913

• noun small reddish wormlike snake of eastern United States
  thunder snake; Carphophis amoenus.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The chicken, or milk, snake. (b) A small reddish ground snake (Carphophis, ∨ Celuta, amoena) native to the Eastern United States; called also worm snake.

Webster 1913

• noun highly venomous brown-and-yellow snake of Australia and Tasmania
  Notechis scutatus.
  

WordNet

• to dress one's self; especially, to dress one's self carefully.

Webster 1913

• noun boa of grasslands and woodlands of western North America; looks and feels like rubber with tail and head of similar shape
  rubber boa; Charina bottae.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of snakes of the genus Dendrophis. They live chiefly among the branches of trees, and are not venomous.
• (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any serpent which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or Solenoglypha, and the cobralike serpents, or Proteroglypha. The former have perforated, erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them.

Webster 1913

• noun slender arboreal snake found from southern Arizona to Bolivia
  

WordNet

• noun a small harmless grass snake
  Natrix maura.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) Any venomous snake of the family Viperidæ. (b) A harmless snake resembling a viper in form or color, esp. Tropidonotus viperinus, a small European species which resembles the viper in color.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian colubrine snakes of the genus Acrochordus, having the body covered with wartlike tubercles or spinose scales, and lacking cephalic plates and ventral scutes.

Webster 1913

• noun any of various mostly harmless snakes that live in or near water
  

WordNet

Wa"ter snake`

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) (a) A common North American colubrine snake (Tropidonotus sipedon) which lives chiefly in the water. (b) Any species of snakes of the family Homalopsidæ, all of which are aquatic in their habits.

Webster 1913

• noun burrows among roots of shrubs and beneath rocks in desert and rocky hillside areas and beach sand of western United States
  Leptotyphlops humilis.
  

WordNet

• noun ranges from Central America to southwestern United States
  Micruroides euryxanthus.
  

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• noun yellow- or reddish-striped snake of temperate woodlands and grasslands to tropics
  Thamnophis proximus.
  

WordNet

• noun any of several small fast-moving snakes with long whiplike tails
  whip snake; whipsnake.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of various species of slender snakes. Specifically: (a) A bright green South American tree snake (Philodryas viridissimus) having a long and slender body. It is not venomous. Called also emerald whip snake. (b) The coachwhip snake.

Webster 1913

• noun any of several small fast-moving snakes with long whiplike tails
  whip snake; whipsnake.
  

WordNet

• noun wormlike burrowing snake of warm regions having vestigial eyes
  blind snake.
  
• noun small reddish wormlike snake of eastern United States
  thunder snake; Carphophis amoenus.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) See Thunder snake (b), under Thunder.

Webster 1913

• (Zoöl.), a West Indian boa (Chilobothrus inornatus) common in Jamaica. It becomes from eight to ten long. The body is yellowish or yellowish green, mixed with black, and anteriorly with black lines.

Webster 1913