rattlesnake
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rattlesnake
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How does rattlesnake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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Hayes emphasized that a bite from any rattlesnake remains a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
Christopher Gadsden’s coiled rattlesnake “Don’t Tread On Me” flag from 1775 symbolized that fight for freedom: Don’t tell me what to do.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
The midtempo “Ridin’ High” starts with a descending harp glissando that pours into a synthesizer seasoned by a vibraslap’s rattlesnake hiss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
On average, the agency receives between 290 and 390 reports of rattlesnake bites annually.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
I would rather look a Texas rattlesnake in the eye.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Beyond influencing how people respond to snake encounters, the researchers say the myth has also affected how rattlesnakes are treated.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
"In addition, pygmy rattlesnakes were expected to have an increased prevalence of Ro, as they primarily consume lizards and frogs which are known to transmit the parasite."
From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026
Fourteen of the 34 rattlesnakes carried the parasite.
From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026
The odds of run-ins between outdoor enthusiasts and rattlesnakes have increased as people have hit the trails these last two months.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Snuffy greeted them with the openhearted good humor and warmth he usually reserved for rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and the bubonic plague.
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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
