Illustration of water moccasin
- water moccasin 1
water moccasin
noun
1
: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) chiefly of the southeastern U.S. that is closely related to the copperhead
called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin
2
: a harmless American colubrid water snake (genus Nerodia) resembling the true water moccasin
Examples of water moccasin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The terms cottonmouth and water moccasin for this species are synonymous.
—
Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 25 Apr. 2023
Your party persona is reborn as that of an eel, a water moccasin, an otter, a seal, a gator.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Many of these are naturally mistaken for the cottonmouth, or water moccasin, a venomous species that lives in and around the water.
—Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 15 Aug. 2022
During a night shoot in the water, the cast and crew relocated after the water moccasin attack.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 12 July 2022
There are four venomous snakes in Texas: coral snakes, copperheads, water moccasins (a.k.a.
—Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 8 June 2020
Alligators and water moccasins live in the tangled woods to the left.
—Richard Conniff, National Geographic, 20 Sep. 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, 10 July 2019
Bears, panthers, countless alligators, and aggressive water moccasins share the same swamp water that floods the trail.
—Eric Barton, Outside Online, 10 July 2019
See More
Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 25 Apr. 2023
Your party persona is reborn as that of an eel, a water moccasin, an otter, a seal, a gator.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Many of these are naturally mistaken for the cottonmouth, or water moccasin, a venomous species that lives in and around the water.
—Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 15 Aug. 2022
During a night shoot in the water, the cast and crew relocated after the water moccasin attack.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 12 July 2022
There are four venomous snakes in Texas: coral snakes, copperheads, water moccasins (a.k.a.
—Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 8 June 2020
Alligators and water moccasins live in the tangled woods to the left.
—Richard Conniff, National Geographic, 20 Sep. 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, 10 July 2019
Bears, panthers, countless alligators, and aggressive water moccasins share the same swamp water that floods the trail.
—Eric Barton, Outside Online, 10 July 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water moccasin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of water moccasin was
circa 1821
Dictionary Entries Near water moccasin
Cite this Entry
“Water moccasin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20moccasin. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
water moccasin
noun
: a poisonous pit viper of the southern U.S. that is closely related to the copperhead
called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin
Medical Definition
water moccasin
noun
water moc·ca·sin
-ˌmäk-ə-sən 
: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) of the southern United States closely related to the copperhead
called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin
More from Merriam-Webster on water moccasin
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for water moccasin
Nglish: Translation of water moccasin for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about water moccasin
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