snake charmer

American  

noun

1. an entertainer who seems to charm venomous snakes, usually by music.

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snake charmer British  

noun

1. an entertainer, esp in Asia, who charms or appears to charm snakes by playing music and by rhythmic body movements

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Etymology

Origin of snake charmer

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

At the Jemaa al-Fna Square, Marrakech's grand centrepiece overlooked by the medieval Kotoubia mosque and a haunt of street entertainers, market stalls and snake charmers, the most precious heritage appeared intact.

From Reuters

In the booth, Suga Free could make street anthems out of beats that sounded made for a polyrhythmic Marrakech snake charmer.

From Los Angeles Times

Camels that strolled along the side of the road in Multan can be ridden into the Arabian Sea on Clifton Beach, where a snake charmer will play music to a hissing black cobra.

From BBC

“The director of casting called me the snake charmer,” Fontana says of the recruiting process.

From Los Angeles Times

Zoe Ziegfeld, a 35-year-old resident of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, is still working as a nanny but lost all of her performance work, including her occasional gig as a snake charmer with The Metropolitan Opera.

From New York Times