spitting cobra

noun

Definition of spitting cobra

: any of several cobras (such as Naja nigricollis and Hemachatus haemachatus of Africa) that in defense typically eject their venom toward the victim without striking

Examples of spitting cobra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Take spitting cobras, which bite and spray painful, blinding venom at the eyes and face of an assailant, thanks to pores in their fangs. — National Geographic, "What’s the difference between a poisonous and venomous animal?," 7 Jan. 2020 Fire ants, spitting cobras and even some species of birds are known to disable their prey with harmful sprays. — Douglas Quenqua, New York Times, "Toads Eat Beetles. Sometimes, Beetles Make Them Regret Their Meal Choice.," 6 Feb. 2018 Among them was the African spitting cobra, Spracklandus. — Benjamin Jones, Smithsonian, "A Few Bad Scientists Are Threatening to Topple Taxonomy," 7 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spitting cobra.' 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

“Spitting cobra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spitting%20cobra. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

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