fox snake

noun

a brown-blotched nonvenomous snake, Elaphe vulpina, of north-central U.S., that vibrates its tail and emits a pungent odor when disturbed.

Origin of fox snake

¹

First recorded in 1855–60; apparently so called from its reddish color

Words Nearby fox snake

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fox snake in a sentence

One is the yellowish, brown-blotched fox snake of the prairie States, which is a ground keeper and a great hunter.
Zoology: The Science of Animal Life | Ernest Ingersoll
Like the fox snake it will emit an unpleasant odor when caught.
Pathfinder | Alan Douglas

Browse