serpent
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)serpents
- limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomousSynonyms: snakeophidianType of diapsid, diapsid reptileKinds sea snake, blind snake, colubrid snake, constrictor, elapid, viperMember of Serpentes, suborder Serpentes
- a firework that moves in serpentine manner when ignitedType of firework, pyrotechnic
- an obsolete bass cornet; resembles a snakeType of cornet, horn
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia), fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. …, Skr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf. Herpes.
1. Zoology Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake, especially a large snake.
☞ The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move partly by bending the body into undulations or folds and pressing them against objects, and partly by using the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees. A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See Ophidia, and Fang.
2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it passess through the air or along the ground.
4. Astronomy The constellation Serpens.
5. Music A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone, formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes introduced into the orchestra; — so called from its form.
Pharaoh's serpent Chemistry, 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. — Serpent cucumber Botany, the long, slender, serpentine fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes colubrina; also, the plant itself. — Serpent eage Zoology, any one of several species of raptorial birds of the genera Circaetus and Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is Circaetus Gallicus. — Serpent eater. Zoology (a) The secretary bird. (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor. — Serpent fish Zoology, a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise. — Serpent star Zoology, an ophiuran; a brittle star. — Serpent's tongue Paleontology, the fossil tooth of a shark; — so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root. — Serpent withe Botany, a West Indian climbing plant (Aristolochia odoratissima). — Tree serpent Zoology, any species of African serpents belonging to the family Dendrophidae.
To wind like a serpent; to crook about; to meander. rare “The serpenting of the Thames.” John Evelyn
To wind; to encircle. rare John Evelyn
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54