viper

[vahy-per]

noun

1. any of several venomous Old World snakes of the genus Vipera, especially V. berus, a small snake common in northern Eurasia.

2. any related snakes belonging to the family Viperidae, characterized by erectile, venom-conducting fangs.

3. pit viper.

4. any of various venomous or supposedly venomous snakes.

5. a malignant or spiteful person.

6. a false or treacherous person.

7. Military.,  Viper, a 9-pound (4-kilogram), shoulder-launched, unguided U.S. Army antitank rocket with an effective range of 273 yards (250 meters).

viper

/ ˈvaɪpə /

noun

1. any venomous Old World snake of the family Viperidae, esp any of the genus Vipera (the adder and related forms), having hollow fangs in the upper jaw that are used to inject venom

2. any of various other snakes, such as the horned viper

3. See pit viper

4. a malicious or treacherous person

Other Word Forms

• viperish adjective
• viperishly adverb
• viper-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of viper¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin vīpera, variant of unattested vīvipera, noun use of feminine of unattested vīviper, later (as re-formation) vīviparus “bringing forth live young”; vivi-, -parous

Word History and Origins

Origin of viper¹

C16: from Latin vīpera, perhaps from vīvus living + parere to bear, referring to a tradition that the viper was viviparous

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to nourish a viper in one's bosom, to befriend a person who proves to be treacherous.

Example Sentences

Confronting her audience, she scolded: "I'll tell you something about my good name / It's mine alone to disgrace / I don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing."

From BBC

In 2019, officials at the Chennai airport seized a horned pit viper snake, five Iguanas, four blue-tongued skinks, three green tree frogs and 22 Egyptian tortoises from a man travelling from Thailand.

From BBC

The other class of snake – the vipers – rely more on haemotoxins, which attack the blood, rather than neurotoxins.

From BBC

Watching Bean’s dutiful lord be torn apart, body and reputation, by a nest of vipers is an altogether different experience.

From Salon

It is a “viper’s nest of radical left Marxists who hate America,” he wrote on X, his social media platform.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cobra