Main Entry:

¹ad·der

Pronunciation:

\ˈa-dər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, alteration (by false division of a naddre) of naddre, from Old English nǣdre; akin to Old High German nātara adder, Latin natrix water snake

Date:

14th century

1: the common venomous viper (Vipera berus) of Europe ; broadly : any of various snakes of the viper family — compare puff adder2: any of several North American snakes (as the hognose snakes) that are harmless but are popularly believed to be venomous

[adder illustration]