rattlesnake

[rat-l-sneyk]

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.

rattlesnake

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of rattlesnake¹

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

Example Sentences

While it’s all well and good to laud Mamdani’s extraordinary political talents and inspiring leadership for social justice, at the same time we should recognize that he has entered into an embrace with a rattlesnake.

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But when it comes time to arrest the culprit, Judy learns the rattlesnake -- Gary -- is simply trying to uncover a secret to restore his family's honor.

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Its amino acid sequence differs from gyroxine, a toxin taken directly from rattlesnake venom and used in fibrin sealant production.

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It is also strong on the unbalanced nature of their relationship, with a friend of Andrew's describing the prince's dealings with Epstein as "like putting a rattlesnake in an aquarium with a mouse".

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The dark, eerie lower world is dominated by two giant rattlesnakes whose writhings cause the ground in the middle world — our world — to shake.

Read more on Los Angeles Times