krait

noun

ˈkrīt 

: any of a genus (Bungarus) of brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Another snake in this region, the Malayan bridle snake, mimics a venomous snake called the Malayan krait not just in its coloration, but by hiding its head under its coils when threatened. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2016

There also have been scarier incidents, like in 2019 when an Australian woman found a python in her shoe during a 9,000-mile flight, as well as a venomous Indian krait found in a carry-on bag at an Indian airport in 2018. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2022

In 2001, a renowned herpetologist, Joseph Slowinski, died after he was bitten by a highly venomous krait in Myanmar and couldn’t get to a hospital in time. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2020

Each dive serves up new wonders: a manta swooping overhead, a solitary dolphin rolling around playfully on a reef, giant schools of snapper and fusiliers whirling around us like tornadoes, venomous sea kraits wafting through sunlit water. —National Geographic, 14 Nov. 2019

Called elapids, these include the New World coral snakes, African mambas, African and Asian cobras, Asian kraits, tropical ocean sea snakes and the highly venomous snakes that make their home in Australia. —Eli Greenbaum, Smithsonian, 19 Dec. 2017

Wire Photo AP In 1954, a bite from a krait, a deadly snake from Thailand, put Haast in an iron lung while Vaughn sourced antivenom from India. —Howard Cohen, miamiherald, 19 May 2017

Wire Photo AP In 1954, a bite from a krait, a deadly snake from Thailand, put Haast in an iron lung while Vaughn sourced antivenom from India. —Howard Cohen, miamiherald, 19 May 2017

To find a more universal antivenom, Ratanabanangkoon and his colleagues collected 12 venom samples from six species of Asian snakes, including four cobras and two kraits. —National Geographic, 3 May 2016

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Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu karait

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

krait

noun

ˈkrīt 

: any of several brightly banded extremely poisonous Asian snakes

Medical Definition

krait

noun

ˈkrīt 

: any of several brightly banded extremely venomous nocturnal elapid snakes of the genus Bungarus that occur in Pakistan, India, southeastern Asia, and adjacent islands