fer-de-lance

noun

ˈfer-də-ˈlan(t)s 

-ˈlän(t)s

plural fer-de-lance

: a large extremely venomous pit viper (Bothrops atrox) of Central and South America

Illustration of fer-de-lance

Examples of fer-de-lance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the people of the Alto Juruá, the fer-de-lance is a grim reality of the dangers of life in the jungle. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

While Costa Rica has about 600 fer-de-lance viper bites every year, for example, only about three to five bites come from coral snakes. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, lance iron, spearhead

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fer-de-lance

noun

ˌferd-ᵊl-ˈan(t)s,

-ˈän(t)s

plural fer-de-lance

: a large extremely poisonous pit viper of Central and South America

Etymology

from French fer-de-lance, literally, "iron (point) of a lance"