Horned viper

Horned viper
viper vi"per (v[imac]"p[~e]r), n. [F. vip[`e]re, L. vipera, probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Cf. {Quick}, a., {Parent}, {Viviparous}, {Wivern}, {Weever}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous snakes belonging to {Vipera}, {Clotho}, {Daboia}, and other genera of the family {Viperid[ae]}. [1913 Webster]

There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. --Acts xxviii. 3. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the best-known species are the European adder ({Pelias berus}), the European asp ({Vipera aspis}), the African horned viper ({Vipera cerastes}), and the Indian viper ({Daboia Russellii}). [1913 Webster]

2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person. [1913 Webster]

Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake. [PJC]

{Horned viper}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Cerastes}.

{Red viper} (Zo["o]l.), the copperhead.

{Viper fish} (Zo["o]l.), a small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish ({Chauliodus Sloanii}). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth.

{Viper's bugloss} (Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb ({Echium vulgare}) having showy purplish blue flowers. It is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called {blue weed}.

{Viper's grass} (Bot.), a perennial composite herb ({Scorzonera Hispanica}) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some other countries. Called also {viper grass}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Horned viper — Horned Horned, a. Furnished with a horn or horns; furnished with a hornlike process or appendage; as, horned cattle; having some part shaped like a horn. [1913 Webster] The horned moon with one bright star Within the nether tip. Coleridge. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Horned viper — may refer to:* Cerastes (genus) , a.k.a. North African desert vipers. * Bitis caudalis , a.k.a. the horned puff adder. * Vipera ammodytes , a.k.a. the sand viper …   Wikipedia

  • horned viper — n a common desert dwelling viper (Aspis cornutus) of Egypt and Asia Minor characterized by a horny scale resembling a spike above each eye * * * Cerastes cerastes, a venomous species found in the Sahara Desert and from Lebanon south to the… …   Medical dictionary

  • horned viper — n. a poisonous N African viper (Cerastes cornutus) with a hornlike spine above each eye …   English World dictionary

  • horned viper — Plume Plume, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plumed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pluming}.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to cover with feathers.] 1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink. [1913 Webster] Pluming her wings… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • horned viper — horned′ vi′per n. ram a viper, Cerastes cerastes, of N African and extreme SW Asian deserts, having a hornlike spine above each eye …   From formal English to slang

  • horned viper — noun highly venomous viper of northern Africa and southwestern Asia having a horny spine above each eye • Syn: ↑cerastes, ↑sand viper, ↑horned asp, ↑Cerastes cornutus • Hypernyms: ↑viper • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • horned viper — noun Date: 1767 a venomous viper (Cerastes cerastes syn. C. cornutus) of North Africa and the Middle East having a horny process over each eye …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • horned viper — a highly venomous viper, Cerastes cerastes, of northern Africa and extreme southwestern Asia, having a process resembling a horn just above each eye. [1760 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • horned viper — /hɔnd ˈvaɪpə/ (say hawnd vuypuh) noun See viper (def. 3) …  

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