RATTLESNAKE
rattlesnake, rattler
(noun) pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
rattlesnake (plural rattlesnakes)
Any of various venomous American snakes, of genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle at the end of its tail.
Synonyms
• rattler (colloquial, especially US)
Hypernyms
• (snake): pit viper
Source: Wiktionary
Rat"tle*snake`, n. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any one of several species of venomous American snakes
belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus. They
have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail
which make a sharp ratting sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake
of the Northern United States (Crotalus horridus), and the diamond
rattlesnake of the south (C. adamanteus), are the best known. See
Illust. of Fang. Ground rattlesnake (Zoöl.), a small rattlesnake
(Caudisona, or Sistrurus, miliaria) of the Southern United States,
having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head.
– Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium
Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked
panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond.
– Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria
Canadensis) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets,
each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the
rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass.
– Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under Plantain.
– Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species
of the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria),
formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also
lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce.
– Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave (Agave
Virginica) growing in the Southern United States. (b) An
umbelliferous plant (Eryngium yuccæfolium) with large bristly-fringed
linear leaves. (c) A composite plant, the blazing star (Liatris
squarrosa).
– Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium
(H. venosum); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also
Snakeroot.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition