puff adder
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)
- large African viper that inflates its body when alarmedSynonyms: Bitis arietansType of viperMember of Bitis, genus Bitis
- harmless North American snake with upturned nose; may spread its head and neck or play dead when disturbedSynonyms: hognose snakesand viperType of colubrid snake, colubridMember of Heterodon, genus Heterodon
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Puff adder
. Zoology (a) Any South African viper belonging to Clotho and allied genera. They are exceedingly venomous, and have the power of greatly distending their bodies when irritated. The common puff adder (Vipera arietans, or Clotho arietans) is the largest species, becoming over four feet long. The plumed puff adder (Clotho cornuta) has a plumelike appendage over each eye. (b) A North American harmless snake (Heterodon platyrrhinos) which has the power of puffing up its body. Called also hog-nose snake, flathead, spreading adder, and blowing adder.
From the entry Puff.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54