rattlesnake

American  

[rat-l-sneyk] / ˈræt lˌsneɪk /

noun

1. any of several New World pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle composed of a series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail.

---

rattlesnake British  

/ ˈrætəlˌsneɪk /

noun

1. any of the venomous New World snakes constituting the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus , such as C. horridus ( black or timber rattlesnake ): family Crotalidae (pit vipers). They have a series of loose horny segments on the tail that are vibrated to produce a buzzing or whirring sound

---

Etymology

Origin of rattlesnake

An Americanism dating back to 1620–30; rattle ¹ + snake

Compare meaning

How does rattlesnake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• roadrunner vs. rattlesnake

Explanation

A rattlesnake is a long, venomous reptile with a tail that shakes, making a sound like a maraca, before it bites. When you're camping in the Arizona desert, you'll want to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes get their name from the rattle at the end of their tails that's composed of rattling pieces of keratin, the same kind of protein found in your fingernails. In order to scare off predators, rattlesnakes noisily vibrate their tails, warning that they're ready to strike. While these snakes cause most snake bites in the U.S., they only attack if they're feeling threatened, and rattlesnake bites aren't deadly if they're treated right away.

Example Sentences

Rattlesnake activity is largely dictated by local weather, Pauly said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The Ramirez Rattlesnake Removal owner was featured along with his 2012 Ram Hemi pickup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

The three men went missing the afternoon of June 18, after they reportedly entered the water at Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs and did not resurface.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

Zebras eat mostly grass and leaves, so Shug probably did fine in that regard, and maybe found water at Rattlesnake Lake, Satterfield explained.

From Seattle Times • May 3, 2024

I had been on my claim just about a year, when one day Rattlesnake Jack's father came from his home on the Jim River and sold me her homestead for three thousand dollars.

From The Conquest The Story of a Negro Pioneer by Micheaux, Oscar