Cape cobra

noun

: an aggressive partly arboreal cobra (Naja nivea) of southern Africa that is extremely variable in coloring, being predominantly yellow, reddish, brown, or black

called also yellow cobra

Word History

Etymology

from Cape of Good Hope

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!