cobra

¹

[koh-bruh]

noun

1. any of several highly venomous, Old World elapid snakes of the genera Naja and Ophiophagus, characterized by the ability to flatten the neck into a hoodlike form when disturbed.

2. any of several similar, related African snakes, as the ringhals.

3. leather made from the skin of a cobra.

4. Military.,  Cobra, a single-engine, two-seat U.S. Army attack helicopter armed with missiles, rockets, and a 20 mm cannon and in service since 1977.

cobra

²

[koh-bruh, kob-ruh]

noun

Australian.

1. head; skull.

cobra

¹

/ ˈkəʊbrə /

noun

1. any highly venomous elapid snake of the genus Naja, such as N. naja ( Indian cobra ), of tropical Africa and Asia. When alarmed they spread the skin of the neck region into a hood

2. any related snake, such as the king cobra

COBRA

²

/ ˈkəʊbrə /

acronym

1. (in the UK) Cabinet Office Briefing Room A: the civil contingencies committee that leads the UK's responses to crises such as terrorist attacks and epidemics

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobra¹

First recorded in 1810–20; short for cobra de capello

Origin of cobra²

First recorded in 1825–35, cobra is from the Dharuk word gabarā

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobra¹

C19: from Portuguese cobra ( de capello ) snake (with a hood), from Latin colubra snake

Example Sentences

Gabriella Comi and her guide David spotted a cobra moving towards two napping lions in the Serengeti National Park in the scorching midday sun.

From BBC

This drama will not end well: “Watch Your Step” has a coiled energy, a cobra poised to strike.

From Los Angeles Times

In total, Mr Friede has endured more than 200 bites and more than 700 injections of venom he prepared from some of the world's deadliest snakes, including multiple species of mambas, cobras, taipans and kraits.

From BBC

The court said he had an illegal, high-explosive "cobra" firework in his possession at the time of his arrest.

From BBC

The SLA’s symbol was the seven-headed cobra, its motto, “Death to the fascist insect that preys upon the life of the people.”

From Los Angeles Times