rattlesnake

American  

[rat-l-sneyk] / ˈræt lˌsneɪk /

noun

1. any of several New World pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle composed of a series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail.

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rattlesnake British  

/ ˈrætəlˌsneɪk /

noun

1. any of the venomous New World snakes constituting the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus , such as C. horridus ( black or timber rattlesnake ): family Crotalidae (pit vipers). They have a series of loose horny segments on the tail that are vibrated to produce a buzzing or whirring sound

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Etymology

Origin of rattlesnake

An Americanism dating back to 1620–30; rattle ¹ + snake

Compare meaning

How does rattlesnake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• roadrunner vs. rattlesnake

Explanation

A rattlesnake is a long, venomous reptile with a tail that shakes, making a sound like a maraca, before it bites. When you're camping in the Arizona desert, you'll want to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes get their name from the rattle at the end of their tails that's composed of rattling pieces of keratin, the same kind of protein found in your fingernails. In order to scare off predators, rattlesnakes noisily vibrate their tails, warning that they're ready to strike. While these snakes cause most snake bites in the U.S., they only attack if they're feeling threatened, and rattlesnake bites aren't deadly if they're treated right away.

Example Sentences

This incident marks the sixth reported rattlesnake bite in the county since March 14, according to Andrew Dowd, public information officer for the Ventura County Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Also in the rattlesnake win column, their venom has been a major source of inspiration for medical treatments, Taylor said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The fiction: You can always tell there’s a rattlesnake nearby because you’ll hear their rattle.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Her phone was “ringing off the hook,” she said, with people who were calling about rattlesnake sightings all over the state.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Each head was diamond-shaped, like a rattlesnake s, but the mouths were lined with jagged rows of sharklike teeth.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan