spitting cobra

American  

noun

1. any cobra or cobralike snake, especially the ringhals, that sprays venom at the eyes of approaching animals.

---

Etymology

Origin of spitting cobra

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Carse produced a lifter to Usman Khawaja so venomous it could have been a spitting cobra.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

Each year, it is estimated that snakebite causes long term detrimental effects in around 400,000 people across the world, with a substantial proportion of those in Africa the result of spitting cobra bites.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

The zoo is home to species including an African grey parrot, a vervet monkey, giant lizards known as Nile monitors, a desert tortoise, a horned viper snake and a Nubian spitting cobra.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2023

Cape buffaloes’ horns, impalas’ long legs, porcupines’ spines and the projectile venom of the spitting cobra are all adaptations to sharing habitat with predators such as lions.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2017

His head is shaped like a pear standing on its stem and has two eyes spaced about six inches apart and they are as friendly as those of a spitting cobra irked by hives.

From Operation Earthworm by Archibald, Joe