rattlesnake

rattlesnake
A member of the crotalid genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, characterized by possession of cuticular warning rattles at the tip of the tail.

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rat·tle·snake 'rat-əl-.snāk n any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE, TIGER RATTLESNAKE, TIMBER RATTLESNAKE

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rat·tle·snake (ratґəl-snāk) any of the New World pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a series of cornified interlocking segments at the tip of the tail; when disturbed they vibrate the tail to produce the characteristic rattling or buzzing sound. See table at snake.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Rattlesnake — Rat tle*snake (r[a^]t t l*sn[=a]k ), n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera {Crotalus} and {Caudisona}, or {Sistrurus}; sometimes also called {rattler}. They have a series of horny… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rattlesnake — (n.) 1620s, from RATTLE (Cf. rattle) + SNAKE (Cf. snake) (n.). Shortened form rattler is from 1827 …   Etymology dictionary

  • rattlesnake — ► NOUN ▪ a heavy bodied American viper with a series of horny rings on the tail that produce a characteristic rattling sound when vibrated as a warning …   English terms dictionary

  • rattlesnake — ☆ rattlesnake [rat′ l snāk΄ ] n. any of various poisonous American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus), having an interlocking series of horny rings at the end of the tail that produce a rattling or buzzing sound when shaken …   English World dictionary

  • Rattlesnake — Taxobox name = Rattlesnake image caption = Crotalus atrox image width = 240px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Squamata subordo = Serpentes familia = Viperidae subfamilia = Crotalinae genus = Crotalus genus authority …   Wikipedia

  • rattlesnake — /rat l snayk /, n. any of several New World pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle composed of a series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail. [1620 30, Amer.; RATTLE1 + SNAKE] * * * Any of about 30… …   Universalium

  • rattlesnake — n. a rattlesnake bites, strikes * * * [ rætlsneɪk] strikes a rattlesnake bites …   Combinatory dictionary

  • rattlesnake — [[t]ræ̱t(ə)lsneɪk[/t]] rattlesnakes N COUNT A rattlesnake is a poisonous American snake which can make a rattling noise with its tail. He had been bitten by a rattlesnake …   English dictionary

  • rattlesnake — UK [ˈræt(ə)lˌsneɪk] / US noun [countable] Word forms rattlesnake : singular rattlesnake plural rattlesnakes a poisonous US snake that makes a noise that sounds like a rattle with its tail …   English dictionary

  • Rattlesnake Mountain — is the name of 55 summits in the United States alone, including:Alabama* Rattlesnake Mountain, Cleburne, AlabamaArkansas* Rattlesnake Mountain, Saline, Arkansas * Rattlesnake Mountain, Polk, ArkansasCalifornia* Rattlesnake Mountain, Placer,… …   Wikipedia

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