schaapsteker

noun

schaap·​ste·​ker

variants or skaapsteker

ˈskäpˌstikə(r),

-tēk-

plural -s

: any of several inoffensive and generally harmless African back-fanged snakes: such as

a

: a snake (Trimerorhinus rhombeatus) irregularly marked in shades of brown

called also spotted schaapsteker

b

: a related snake (T. tritaeniatus) having two or three dark longitudinal bands on the grayish brown back

called also striped schaapsteker

c

: a sand snake of the genus Psammophis

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans skaapsteker, from skaap sheep (from Dutch schaap, from Middle Dutch schaep) + steker one that stings or pricks, from Dutch, from steken to sting, prick + -er; akin to Old High German stehhan to sting, prick

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