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definitions

king snake

or king·snake

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noun

any of several New World constrictors of the genus Lampropeltis, that often feed on other snakes.

Origin of king snake

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; king + snake
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for king snake

Historical Examples of king snake

  • The king-snake should be protected in regions infested by "rattlers."

  • Well, he's harmless, I think—a king-snake, if I am not mistaken.

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    Robert W. Chambers

  • The King-Snake is the longest of all others, and not common; no Snake (they say) will meddle with them.

British Dictionary definitions for king snake

king snake

noun

any nonvenomous North American colubrid snake of the genus Lampropeltis, feeding on other snakes, small mammals, etc
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