coral snake
- any of numerous venomous elapid snakes, found chiefly in the New World tropics, as Micrurus fulvius (eastern coral snake), of the southeastern U.S., often brilliantly marked with bands of red, yellow, and black.
- any of several other snakes, as of the genus Calliophis, of Asia, having red markings.
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Origin of coral snake
First recorded in 1750–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for coral snake
Historical Examples
I dell you a coral-snake is a peauty—all red und white like coral dot has been gestrung in bands upon der neck of a girl.
Life's HandicapRudyard Kipling
The coral-snake is much the same in color, and only a close observer would notice the difference.
On the TrailLina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard
The harlequin snake and the coral-snake are so similar in color and in habits, one description for both will answer our purpose.
On the TrailLina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard
coral snake
- any venomous elapid snake of the genus Micrurus and related genera, of tropical and subtropical America, marked with red, black, yellow, and white transverse bands
- any of various other brightly coloured elapid snakes of Africa and SE Asia
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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