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king snake

or king·snake

noun
  1. any of several New World constrictors of the genus Lampropeltis, that often feed on other snakes.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for king snake

Historical Examples

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

    Elementary Zoology, Second Edition

    Vernon L. Kellogg

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

    Quick Action

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