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

When he first hooked the historic fish, he thought it was a normal snakehead.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

The previous record-holder, a 19.9-pound snakehead, was caught in 2018.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

On May 19, state workers using a net to catch bait for a youth jug-fishing clinic, pulled a 13-inch northern snakehead out of Duck Creek Conservation Area.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

The northern snakehead was caught last month in a drainage pool at Duck Creek Conservation Area.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

Mingled with these grow, lower, the spiraeas, white and pink, yellow touch-me-not, fresh white arrowhead, bright blue vervain and skullcap, dull snakehead, gay monkey-flower, coarse eupatoriums, milk-weeds, golden-rods, asters, thistles, and a host beside.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 11, September, 1858 by Various