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king snake

American

Or kingsnake

noun

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

king snake British

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

Etymology

Origin of king snake

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; king + snake

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was a king snake, harmless and very handy at devouring insects.”

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2022

Only a solid black mask that glittered under the midway lights like the scales on a king snake.

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2020

Arizona State University cared for a two-headed king snake that survived for almost 17 years, and a two-headed corn snake that lived at the San Diego Zoo managed to give birth to 15 one-headed babies.

From Slate • Sep. 24, 2018

I put Peppermint back in her cage, and took out our king snake, red and black, about three feet long.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2017

But when he opened his mouth the first line sallied forth sounding like a mouse being squeezed to death by a king snake.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023