hoop snake

noun

1. any of several harmless snakes, as the mud snake and rainbow snake, fabled to take its tail in its mouth and roll along like a hoop.

hoop snake

noun

1. any of various North American snakes, such as the mud snake ( Farancia abacura ), that were formerly thought to hold the tail in the mouth and roll along like a hoop

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoop snake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

He stretched his neck and saw that which suggested an overgrown hoop-snake rolling down the hill.

From Project Gutenberg

The "hoop snake" was quite as authentic to us as the blue racer, although no one had actually seen one.

From Project Gutenberg

It is applied also to the southern hoop-snake (Abastor erythrogrammus).

From Project Gutenberg

I confess I was deceived in—I won't say that man, but that hoop-snake.

From Project Gutenberg

I heard an old hunter say he once stood by a lone tree on the prairie and saw a hoop-snake come rolling toward the tree.

From Project Gutenberg