death adder

noun

1. either of two highly venomous elapid snakes of the genus Acanthophis, of Australia and New Guinea, having a stout body and broad head.

death adder

noun

1. a venomous Australian elapid snake, Acanthophis antarcticus, resembling an adder

Word History and Origins

Origin of death adder¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The death adder, so the keeper told us, is the most dangerous of all the Australian snakes, as it never tries to escape.

From Project Gutenberg

Otherwise, no power on earth could have saved me from the fate of Abel Slattin; for the creature was an Australian death-adder.

From Project Gutenberg

She made a yellow death-adder out of nothing and placed it upon the threshold, and mocked me with laughter.

From Project Gutenberg

"I reckon there's a storm comin'," remarked George, as he assisted a small death-adder into the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Five rather common species are certainly deadly—the death adder, the brown, the black, the superb and the tiger snakes.

From Project Gutenberg