Snake

snāk, n. a serpent— Snakes ( Ophidia ) form one of the cla es of reptiles, in shape limble 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 .]