horned viper

noun

: a venomous viper (Cerastes cerastes synonym C. cornutus) of North Africa and the Middle East having a horny process over each eye

Examples of horned viper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spider-tailed horned viper photo by Omid Mozaffari (video and more information here). Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2014 The Saharan horned viper and the sidewinding adder of the Namib desert — which are closely related — have belly scales with uniform pits and no spikes. New York Times, 1 Feb. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horned viper was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near horned viper

Cite this Entry

“Horned viper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horned%20viper. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

horned viper

noun
: a common desert-dwelling viper (Aspis cornutus) of Egypt and Asia Minor characterized by a horny scale resembling a spike above each eye

More from Merriam-Webster on horned viper

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!