water moccasin

water moccasin

noun

Definition of WATER MOCCASIN

1

: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) chiefly of the southeastern United States that is closely related to the copperhead —called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin

2

: a harmless American colubrid water snake (genus Nerodia) resembling the true water moccasin

Illustration of WATER MOCCASIN

First Known Use of WATER MOCCASIN

circa 1821

water moc·ca·sin

noun \-ˌmäk-ə-sən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of WATER MOCCASIN

: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) of the southern United States closely related to the copperhead—called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin

Illustration of WATER MOCCASIN

water moccasin

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Either of two species of pit viper that inhabits marshy lowlands of the southeastern U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. species (Agkistrodon piscivorus) is called a cottonmouth because it threatens with the mouth open, showing the white interior. It is up to 5 ft (1.5 m) long and is completely black or brown with darker crossbands. A dangerous snake with a potentially lethal bite, it tends to stand its ground or move slowly away when alarmed. It will eat almost any small animal, including turtles, fishes, and birds. See also copperhead.

Variants of WATER MOCCASIN

water moccasin or cottonmouth