bullsnake

or bull snake

[ bool-sneyk ]

/ ˈbʊlˌsneɪk /

Save This Word!

noun

any of several large North American constrictors of the genus Pituophis, as the gopher snake and pine snake, that feed chiefly upon small rodents.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bullsnake

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; bull¹ + snake

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bullsnake in a sentence

For these Arabs, Iran is the raised (and loaded) head of the snake.
The Nuclear Deal That Iran’s Regime Fears Most|Djavad Khadem|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The black mamba snake slithering towards Lakshmi is highly venomous.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the minor-league baseball player memorably portrayed by Kevin Costner in Bull Durham.
All The Wrong Reasons to Ban Gay Unions|Jay Michaelson|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here the snake oil quotient is a bit more evident than in the skybox seats occupied by insights made using hard science.
All These AIDS ‘Cures’ Are a Fantasy—One That Can Cause Real Harm|Kent Sepkowitz|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Which of these foods have science to back them up, and which are nothing but snake oil?
Fish Oil, Turmeric, and Ginseng, Oh My! Are ‘Brain Foods’ B.S.?|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
I thought this young man was going to read us some of his poetry; it's too tiresome of him to stop to tell us about his bull-dog.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
And I, for one, absolutely decline to believe in this preposterous story of his about a bull-dog.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
He heard Mohammedans alluding to a Brahmin as a leader—so might a wolf and a snake make common alliance against a watch dog.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Tom leaped on one side; the buffalo-bull turned short round and made another dash at him.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for bullsnake

bull snake

noun

any burrowing North American nonvenomous colubrid snake of the genus Pituophis, typically having yellow and brown markingsAlso called: gopher snake

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