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

Example Sentences

The California Poison Control System has reported 77 calls of rattlesnake bites in just the first three months of 2026.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

A Ventura County woman is the second hiker to die from a rattlesnake bite on a Southern California trail during an unusually active period of snake attacks and warm weather.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

The Mojave rattlesnake, often called a ‘Mojave green,’ is known to inhabit areas of the Antelope Valley, which is part the Western Mojave Desert.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The following day, the county Fire Department rescued a teenage girl from the Wendy Trail in Newbury Park after she suffered a rattlesnake bite.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

This time no one would come to his aid if he fell off a rock or was bitten by a rattlesnake.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer