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death adder

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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.
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Origin of death adder

First recorded in 1855–60
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for death adder

Historical Examples

  • Like the octopus or the death-adder (Acanthopis antarctica) of Australia, he can assimilate his colour to his environment.

    John Corwell, Sailor And Miner; and, Poisonous Fish

    Louis Becke

  • But Pretty Pierre was like the death-adder, small and beautiful, silent and deadly.

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

British Dictionary definitions for death adder

death adder

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