Rattlesnake

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rattlesnake \Rat"tle*snake`\ (r[a^]t"t'l*sn[=a]k`), n. (Zool.)
     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 interlocking joints at the end of the tail
     which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken. The common


     rattlesnake of the Northern United States ({Crotalus
     horridus}), and the {diamondback rattlesnake} (also called
     {diamondback rattler}, and {diamondback}) of the South and
     East ({Crotalus adamanteus}) and West ({Crotalus atrox}), are
     the best known. See Illust. of {Fang}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     {Ground rattlesnake} (Zool.), a small rattlesnake ({Caudisona
        miliaria} 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} ({Prenanthes
        alba} and {Prenanthes serpentaria}), formerly asserted to
        cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Called 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 yuccaefolium}) 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} ({Hieracium venosum}); -- probably so named
        from its spotted leaves. See also {Snakeroot}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  rattlesnake
       n : pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that
           rattle when shaken [syn: {rattler}]

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  RATTLESNAKE, n.  Our prostrate brother, _Homo ventrambulans_.