garter snake

noun

1. any of numerous harmless snakes of the genus Thamnophis, common in North and Central America, ranging in size from 14 to 30 inches (36 to 76 centimeters) and typically having three longitudinal stripes on the back.

garter snake

noun

1. any nonvenomous North American colubrid snake of the genus Thamnophis, typically marked with longitudinal stripes

Word History and Origins

Origin of garter snake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

Example Sentences

It was black and had a yellow stripe in it like unto one of those yellow stripes the garter-snake wears on his back.

From Project Gutenberg

Geographic variation in the garter snake, Thamnophis cyrtopsis.

From Project Gutenberg

The something proved to be a small and very scared garter-snake, that Helen was carrying in a forked stick.

From Project Gutenberg

A second glance showed it to be an unusually large garter-snake, less brilliantly striped than any I had before seen.

From Project Gutenberg

We were walking along, and I saw a particularly rare specimen of a little garter-snake.

From Project Gutenberg