constrictor

American  

[kuhn-strik-ter] / kənˈstrɪk tər /

noun

1. a snake that kills its prey by coiling tightly around it, causing suffocation.

2. Anatomy. a muscle that constricts a hollow part of the body, as the pharynx.

3. a person or thing that constricts.

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constrictor British  

/ kənˈstrɪktə /

noun

1. any of various nonvenomous snakes, such as the pythons, boas, and anaconda, that coil around and squeeze their prey to kill it

2. any muscle that constricts or narrows a canal or passage; sphincter

3. a person or thing that constricts

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Etymology

Origin of constrictor

From New Latin, dating back to 1700–10; see origin at constrict, -tor

Explanation

Snakes that kill their prey by squeezing them to death are known as constrictors. The most well-known of these is the huge boa constrictor. Most constrictors aren't venomous, but instead use their powerful coils to subdue animals, wrapping their bodies in loops around their prey. The process of constriction can take a while, in part because constrictors keep tabs on their victim's heartbeat, waiting for it to slow. Rather than crushing or suffocating prey, these big snakes constrict their blood from flowing — which is the source of their name, from a Latin root meaning "compress."