krait

[ krahyt ]

noun

any of several large, usually banded, placid but highly venomous snakes constituting the genus Bungarus, of the cobra family, common in southeastern Asia and the Malay Archipelago.

Origin of krait

First recorded in 1870–75, krait is from the Hindi word karait

Words Nearby krait

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

How to use krait in a sentence

A krait, the most deadly snake in India, in the middle of the day came in at the door of the room in which I was sitting reading.
India and the Indians | Edward F. Elwin
Animals which come into contact with the krait and its mimic are hardly likely to inspect their teeth.
The Making of Species | Douglas Dewar

British Dictionary definitions for krait

krait

/ (kraɪt) /

noun

any nonaggressive brightly coloured venomous elapid snake of the genus Bungarus, of S and SE Asia

Origin of krait

C19: from Hindi karait, of obscure origin

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

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