snakehead

American  

[sneyk-hed] / ˈsneɪkˌhɛd /

noun

1. a turtlehead plant.

2. any elongate fish of the family Channidae (or Ophicephalidae), having a large head heads with a deeply cleft mouth and able to breathe atmospheric oxygen.

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snakehead British  

/ ˈsneɪkˌhed /

noun

1. a Chinese criminal involved in the illegal transport of Chinese citizens to other parts of the world

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Etymology

Origin of snakehead

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; snake + head

Example Sentences

They said they could tap underground networks of compound staff, Chinese fugitives and "snakeheads" -- smugglers with ties to multiple centres -- to track the person and broker their release.

From Barron's

It’s markedly different from the days when Chinese nationals paid smugglers, known as snakeheads, and traveled in groups.

From Seattle Times

A Dorchester County, Maryland, man broke the record for the heaviest invasive snakehead fish ever caught in the state at a whopping 21 pounds, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced Friday.

From Washington Times

The northern snakehead is originally from east Asia, where they are a delicacy believed to have healing powers.

From Seattle Times

His preference for blue catfish, or snakehead when he can get it, is Amendola’s way of “helping out the bay” by ridding local waters of invasive species.

From Washington Post