Snake

Snake, snāk, n. a serpent—Snakes (Ophidia) form one of the classes of reptiles, in shape limbless and much elongated, embracing tree-snakes, the water-snakes, and the very venomous sea-snakes (Hydrophidæ), the burrowing-snakes (Typhlopidæ) and the majority, which may be called ground-snakes.—ns. Snake′-bird, a darter: the wryneck; Snake′-eel, a long Mediterranean eel, its tail without a tail-fin.—adj. Snake′-like (Tenn.), like a snake.—ns. Snake′-root, the popular name of various plants of different genera, whose roots are considered good for snake-bites; Snake's′-head, the guinea-hen flower; Snake′-stone, a small rounded piece of stone or other hard substance, popularly believed to be efficacious in curing snake-bites; Snake′-weed, the bistort; Snake′wood (same as Letter-wood).—adjs. Snak′ish, having the qualities of a snake: cunning, deceitful; Snak′y (Spens.), belonging to, or resembling, a serpent: (Milt.) cunning, deceitful: covered with, or having, serpents. [A.S. snaca, prob. from snícan, to creep; Ice. snák-r.]