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Synonyms for snake

Grammar : Noun
Spell : sneyk
Phonetic Transcription : sneɪk

Définition of snake

Origin :
  • Old English snaca, from Proto-Germanic *snakon (cf. Old Norse snakr "snake," Swedish snok, German Schnake "ring snake"), from PIE root *sneg- "to crawl, creeping thing" (cf. Old Irish snaighim "to creep," Lithuanian snake "snail," Old High German snahhan "to creep"). In Modern English, gradually replacing serpent in popular use.
  • Traditionally applied to the British serpent, as distinguished from the poisonous adder. Meaning "treacherous person" first recorded 1580s (cf. Old Church Slavonic gadu "reptile," gadinu "foul, hateful"). Applied from 17c. to various snake-like devices and appliances. Snakes! as an exclamation is from 1839.
  • Snake eyes in crap-shooting sense is from 1919. Snake oil is from 1927. Snake-bitten "unlucky" is sports slang from 1957, from a literal sense, perhaps suggesting one doomed by being poisoned. The game of Snakes and Ladders is attested from 1907. Snake charmer is from 1813. Snake pit is from 1883, as a supposed primitive test of truth or courage; figurative sense is from 1941. Phrase snake in the grass is from Virgil's Latet anguis in herba [Ecl. III:93].
  • noun reptile
Example sentences :
  • He certainly had warmed a snake on his hearth, and how was he to be rid of it?
  • Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
  • Her tail bristled a little as it curled at the tip like a snake.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • They had not seen the snake at all, but a stick that came back to the thrower's hand was magic.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • "Use it on whichever of us gets the first snake bite," said Linda.
  • Extract from : « Her Father's Daughter » by Gene Stratton-Porter
  • When a man is bitten by a snake in a solitary place he is in God's hands.
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • He saw the woman twined round him like a snake, not to be shaken off.
  • Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad
  • I began to thank my patron saint that the Snake River was crossed.
  • Extract from : « A Woman Tenderfoot » by Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
  • Now, when we get through the Snake River on here a piece, we'll be all right.
  • Extract from : « A Woman Tenderfoot » by Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
  • "We'll just cross the Snake River, and then it'll be plain sailing," he said.
  • Extract from : « A Woman Tenderfoot » by Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
  • When we reached the Snake River, there was no doubt that the others were mere forks.
  • Extract from : « A Woman Tenderfoot » by Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019