snakehead

American  

[sneyk-hed] / ˈsneɪkˌhɛd /

noun

1. a turtlehead plant.

2. any elongate fish of the family Channidae (or Ophicephalidae), having a large head heads with a deeply cleft mouth and able to breathe atmospheric oxygen.

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snakehead British  

/ ˈsneɪkˌhed /

noun

1. a Chinese criminal involved in the illegal transport of Chinese citizens to other parts of the world

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Etymology

Origin of snakehead

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; snake + head

Example Sentences

The previous record-holder, a 19.9-pound snakehead, was caught in 2018.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

A Dorchester County, Maryland, man broke the record for the heaviest invasive snakehead fish ever caught in the state at a whopping 21 pounds, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced Friday.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

The northern snakehead is originally from east Asia, where they are a delicacy believed to have healing powers.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

The northern snakehead was caught last month in a drainage pool at Duck Creek Conservation Area.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

The snakehead, therefore, has similarly accommodated himself to this annual peculiarity in his local habitation by acquiring a special chamber for retaining water to moisten his gills throughout his long deprivation of that prime necessary.

From Falling in Love With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science by Allen, Grant