copperhead

cop·per·head | \ ˈkä-pər-ˌhed

\

Definition of copperhead

1 : a common pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) of the eastern and central U.S. usually having a copper-colored head and often a reddish-brown hourglass pattern on the body

2 : a person in the northern states who sympathized with the South during the American Civil War

Examples of copperhead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like cottonmouths, copperheads are often misidentified because of their notoriety in U.S. culture. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, "Cougar or not? Why we think we see big cats in our backyards.," 18 Nov. 2019 McDaniel says the copperhead became aware of his presence, finished swallowing the cicada and slithered off. — Washington Post, "Gulp! Arkansas photographer snaps images of snake eating bug," 26 July 2019 An Arkansas photographer captured a venomous copperhead snake devouring a cicada that had just emerged from its shell at Ozark National Forest earlier this month. — Fox News, "Venomous Arkansas snake devours bug in jaw-dropping photos," 29 July 2019 According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, Southern copperheads are the most common variety found in east Texas. — Darla Guillen Gilthorpe, Houston Chronicle, "High summer temperatures are luring out more active snakes in Texas," 25 July 2019 The snake was a venomous copperhead, but with unusual markings down its back. — USA TODAY, "Tubing, Hemingway, great white sharks: News from around our 50 states," 21 July 2019 Those that are venomous include the diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake, pigmy rattlesnake, the copperhead, and cottonmouth or water moccasin. — Wayne K. Roustan, sun-sentinel.com, "Venomous snake captured after it bites man, 19," 10 July 2019 Manndel said copperheads are pretty common around the area. — Michelle Lou, CNN, "A Pennsylvania woman was bitten by a copperhead snake while doing laundry," 19 June 2019 Late last summer in Woodbridge, Virginia, a woman wandered into her yard and found an eastern copperhead slithering through her flower bed. — Laura Mallonee, WIRED, "The Life and Viral Fame of Virginia's Two-Headed Snake," 13 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'copperhead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Copperhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copperhead. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for copperhead

copperhead

noun

English Language Learners Definition of copperhead

: a poisonous reddish-brown snake of the eastern and central U.S.

See the full definition for copperhead in the English Language Learners Dictionary

copperhead

noun

cop·per·head | \ ˈkä-pər-ˌhed

\

Kids Definition of copperhead

: a poisonous snake of the eastern and central United States with a reddish brown head

copperhead

noun

cop·per·head | \ ˈkäp-ər-ˌhed

\

Medical Definition of copperhead

1 : a pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix) widely distributed in upland areas of the eastern and central United States that typically attains a length of three feet (0.9 meter), is coppery brown above with dark transverse blotches, and is capable of inflicting a very painful but rarely fatal bite

2 : a very venomous but sluggish Australian elapid snake of the genus Denisonia (D. superba)

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