water snake

American  

noun

1. any of numerous and widely distributed harmless snakes of the genus Natrix, inhabiting areas in or near fresh water.

2. any of various other snakes living in or frequenting water.

3. Astronomy.  Water Snake, the constellation Hydrus.

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water snake British  

noun

1. any of various colubrid snakes that live in or near water, esp any of numerous harmless North American snakes of the genus Natrix, such as N. sipedon

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Etymology

Origin of water snake

First recorded in 1595–1605

Compare meaning

How does water-snake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• water moccasin vs. water snake
• water snake vs. moccasin

Example Sentences

Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.

From Seattle Times

"I thought this creature was a water snake, that it would attack everything, that eating it would be bad for you, that it might be poisonous," he recalls.

From BBC

Boxes containing water snakes, garter snakes, woodland salamanders, dusky salamanders and other species arrived last month.

From Seattle Times

The couple said they have visited the lake since 1998, picnicking or walking the lake’s perimeter, where they’ve spotted water snakes and raccoons.

From Washington Post

Bottles of water are available in stores, but many residents, impoverished by war, depend on bottled water donations from abroad, even as pools of water snake onto streets from leaking mains.

From Reuters