horned viper

American  

noun

1. a highly venomous viper, Cerastes cerastes, of northern Africa and extreme southwestern Asia, having a process resembling a horn just above each eye.

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horned viper British  

noun

1. Also called: sand viper.  a venomous snake, Cerastes cornutus, that occurs in desert regions of N Africa and SW Asia and has a small horny spine above each eye: family Viperidae (vipers)

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Etymology

Origin of horned viper

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The zoo is home to species including an African grey parrot, a vervet monkey, giant lizards known as Nile monitors, a desert tortoise, a horned viper snake and a Nubian spitting cobra.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2023

Indeed, the best footage here is captured at night, from the slinkings of the bizarre horned viper to the evasive tactics of the lesser jerboa, a tiny rodent with kangaroo-like hind legs.

From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2013

A young girl accompanying them saw how all of them were bitten by a horned viper and ran back to tell the news.

From Primitive Love and Love-Stories by Finck, Henry Theophilus

He met in succession a hungry porcupine, an alligator, a horned viper, and some ants, of all of whom he made friends by feeding them the things he had taken along.

From Primitive Love and Love-Stories by Finck, Henry Theophilus

Cleopatra is said to have committed suicide by means of an asp's bite, but the incident is generally associated with the Cerastes or horned viper, not with the haje.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2 Amiel to Atrauli by Various