catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Serpent \Ser"pent\, n. [F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia),
     fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. ???,
     Skr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf.
     Herpes.]
     1. (Zo["o]l.) Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake,
        especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move
           partly by bending the body into undulations or folds
           and pressing them against objects, and partly by using
           the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to
           rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the
           ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees.
           A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See
           Ophidia, and Fang.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it
        passess through the air or along the ground.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Astron.) The constellation Serpens.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Mus.) A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone,
        formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes
        introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Pharaoh's serpent (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a
        combustible white substance which in burning gives off a
        poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous
        residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is
        employed as a scientific toy.
  
     Serpent cucumber (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine
        fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes
        colubrina; also, the plant itself.
  
     Serpent eage (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
        raptorial birds of the genera Circa["e]tus and
        Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa,
        Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is
        Circa["e]tus Gallicus.
  
     Serpent eater. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) The secretary bird.
        (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor.
  
     Serpent+fish+(Zo["o]l.),+a+fish+({Cepola+rubescens" rel="nofollow">Serpent fish (Zo["o]l.), a fish ({Cepola rubescens) with a
        long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running
        lengthwise.
  
     Serpent star (Zo["o]l.), an ophiuran; a brittle star.
  
     Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; --
        so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.
        
  
     Serpent withe (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant
        ({Aristolochia odoratissima).
  
     Tree serpent (Zo["o]l.), any species of African serpents
        belonging to the family Dendrophid[ae].
        [1913 Webster]

  Serpent \Ser"pent\, n. [F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia),
     fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. ???,
     Skr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf.
     Herpes.]
     1. (Zo["o]l.) Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake,
        especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.
  
     Note: The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move
           partly by bending the body into undulations or folds
           and pressing them against objects, and partly by using
           the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to
           rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the
           ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees.
           A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See
           Ophidia, and Fang.
  
     2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
  
     3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it
        passess through the air or along the ground.
  
     4. (Astron.) The constellation Serpens.
  
     5. (Mus.) A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone,
        formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes
        introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form.
  
     Pharaoh's serpent (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a
        combustible white substance which in burning gives off a
        poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous
        residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is
        employed as a scientific toy.
  
     Serpent cucumber (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine
        fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes
        colubrina; also, the plant itself.
  
     Serpent eage (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
        raptorial birds of the genera Circa["e]tus and
        Spilornis, which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa,
        Southern Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is
        Circa["e]tus Gallicus.
  
     Serpent eater. (Zo["o]l.)
        (a) The secretary bird.
        (b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor.
  
     Serpent+fish+(Zo["o]l.),+a+fish+({Cepola+rubescens" rel="nofollow">Serpent fish (Zo["o]l.), a fish ({Cepola rubescens) with a
        long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running
        lengthwise.
  
     Serpent star (Zo["o]l.), an ophiuran; a brittle star.
  
     Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; --
        so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.
        
  
     Serpent withe (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant
        ({Aristolochia odoratissima).
  
     Tree serpent (Zo["o]l.), any species of African serpents
        belonging to the family Dendrophid[ae].