puff adder

American  

noun

1. a large, thick-bodied, African viper, Bitis arietans, that inflates its body and hisses when disturbed.

2. a similar viper, B. inornata, native to southern Africa.

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puff adder British  

noun

1. a large venomous African viper, Bitis arietans, that is yellowish-grey with brown markings and inflates its body when alarmed

2. another name for hognose snake

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Etymology

Origin of puff adder

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Her team then checked this in a variety of snakes - dissecting a total of nine species including the carpet python, puff adder and Mexican moccasin.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2022

A guy came in with a puff adder on a stick, that kind of thing.

From The Verge • Aug. 28, 2018

At the edge of a lake, a giant buffalo bellowed loudly for its mate; a frightened puff adder shot through the grass with incredible speed.

From Time Magazine Archive

Morrison, 46, looks like a cross between a puff adder and a pub keeper, and will never seem beguiling in a video.

From Time Magazine Archive

A puff adder reared up out of the drawer at her.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck