blacksnake

or black snake

[blak-sneyk]

noun

Also called black racer. a blackish racer, Coluber constrictor subspecies, of the eastern U.S., that grows to a length of 6 feet (1.8 meters).

any of various other snakes of a black or very dark color.

a heavy, tapering, flexible whip of braided cowhide or the like.

Origin of blacksnake

An Americanism dating back to 1625–35; black + snake

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for blacksnake

Historical Examples of blacksnake

Then great Blacksnake, “The Climber,” offered to go for fire.
Myths and Legends of the Great Plains
Unknown
It was quite on the cards that the old-timer might use a blacksnake whip on him.
Oh, You Tex!
William Macleod Raine
He had a blacksnake whip in his hand and was teasing a pup with it.
Oh, You Tex!
William Macleod Raine
He knew by the sound of the rustling that Mr. Blacksnake was right at his heels.
The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse
Thornton W. Burgess
There was only one who could make such a sound as that—Mr. Blacksnake.
The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse
Thornton W. Burgess

British Dictionary definitions for blacksnake

blacksnake

noun

any of several Old World black venomous elapid snakes, esp Pseudechis porphyriacus (Australian blacksnake)

any of various dark nonvenomous snakes, such as Coluber constrictor (black racer)

US and Canadian a long heavy pliant whip of braided leather or rawhide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012