*snak*

{ it>or }, n. (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is also applied to various other black serpents, as Natrix atra of Jamaica. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of several large harmless rodent-eating North American burrowing snakes of the genus Pituophis. They include the gopher snake and pine snake.
Syn. -- . [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) A large, slender, harmless snake of the southern United States (Masticophis flagelliformis). [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its long and tapering tail has the scales so arranged and colored as to give it a braided appearance, whence the name. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) An amphibian (Amphiuma means) of the order Urodela, found in the southern United States. See Amphiuma. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of several venomous New World snakes brilliantly banded in red and black and either yellow or white, especially the eastern coral snake, a small poisonous snake (Micrurus fulvius or Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southeastern United States. They are widely distributed in Southern and Central America;
Syn. -- coral snake, New World coral snake. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) A harmless North American snake of the genus Heterodon, esp. Heterodon platyrhynos; -- called also puffing adder, blowing adder, and sand viper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A harmless snake (Farancia abacura), found in the Southern United States. The color is bluish black above, red below. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus; sometimes also called rattler. They have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake of the Northern United States (Crotalus horridus), and the diamondback rattlesnake (also called diamondback rattler, and diamondback) of the South and East (Crotalus adamanteus) and West (Crotalus atrox), are the best known. See Illust. of Fang. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Ground rattlesnake (Zool.), a small rattlesnake (Caudisona miliaria or Sistrurus miliaria) of the Southern United States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. --
Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. --
Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria Canadensis) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets, each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass. --
Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under Plantain. --
Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (Prenanthes alba and Prenanthes serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Called also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce. --
Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave (Agave Virginica) growing in the Southern United States. (b) An umbelliferous plant (Eryngium yuccaefolium) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves. (c) A composite plant, the blazing star (Liatris squarrosa). --
Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium (Hieracium venosum); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) Any one of many species of venomous aquatic snakes of the family Hydrophidae, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel. snākr, sn&unr_;kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin. ] (Zool.) Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blind snake,
Garter snake,
Green snake,
King snake,
Milk snake,
Rock snake,
Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc. --
Fetich snake (Zool.), a large African snake (Python Sebae) used by the natives as a fetich. --
Ringed snake (Zool.), a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix). --
Snake eater. (Zool.) (a) The markhoor. (b) The secretary bird. --
Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [ U.S. ] --
Snake fly (Zool.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax. --
Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber. --
Snake killer. (Zool.) (a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock. --
Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium. --
Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up. --
Tree snake (Zool.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Snaked p. pr. & vb. n. Snaking. ] 1. To drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out. [ Colloq. U.S. ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of the large one; to worm. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To crawl like a snake. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So named from its snakelike neck. ] (Zool.) 1. Any one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus. They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long, slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The American species (Anhinga anhinga syn. Plotus anhinga) inhabits the Southern United States and tropical America; -- called also darter, and water turkey. The Asiatic species (Anhinga melanogaster) is native of Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and Australia respectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The wryneck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The band fish. (b) The lizard fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A loose, bent-up end of one of the strap rails, or flat rails, formerly used on American railroads. It was sometimes so bent by the passage of a train as to slip over a wheel and pierce the bottom of a car. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) (a) The turtlehead. (b) The Guinea-hen flower. See Snake's-head, and under Guinea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The snakebird, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Any one of several plants of different genera and species, most of which are (or were formerly) reputed to be efficacious as remedies for the bites of serpents; also, the roots of any of these. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Virginia snakeroot is Aristolochia Serpentaria; black snakeroot is Sanicula, esp. Sanicula Marilandica, also Cimicifuga racemosa; Seneca snakeroot is Polygala Senega; button snakeroot is Liatris, also Eryngium; white snakeroot is Eupatorium ageratoides. The name is also applied to some others besides these. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Snake's-head iris (Bot.), an iridaceous plant (Hermodactylus tuberosus) of the Mediterranean region. The flowers slightly resemble a serpent's open mouth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A kind of hone slate or whetstone obtained in Scotland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Paleon.) An ammonite; -- so called from its form, which resembles that of a coiled snake. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Same as Adder's-tongue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) A kind of knotweed (Polygonum Bistorta). (b) The Virginia snakeroot. See Snakeroot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) An East Indian climbing plant (Strychnos colubrina) having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a remedy for the bite of the hooded serpent. (b) An East Indian climbing shrub (Ophioxylon serpentinum) which has the roots and stems twisted so as to resemble serpents. (c) Same as Trumpetwood. (d) A tropical American shrub (Plumieria rubra) which has very fragrant red blossoms. (e) Same as Letterwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the qualities or characteristics of a snake; snaky. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a snake or snakes; resembling a snake; serpentine; winding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The red light playing upon its gilt and carving gave it an appearance of snaky life. L. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sly; cunning; insinuating; deceitful. [ 1913 Webster ]

So to the coast of Jordan he directs
His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Covered with serpents; having serpents; as, a snaky rod or wand. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

That snaky-headed, Gorgon shield. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]