cerastes

[ suh-ras-teez ]
/ səˈræs tiz /

noun, plural ce·ras·tes.

any of several small vipers of the genus Cerastes, including the horned viper, that have a sideways looping motion like that of a sidewinder and inhabit deserts of northern Africa and southwestern Asia.

Origin of cerastes

1768; < New Latin < Greek kerástēs literally, something horned, equivalent to kerat- stem of kéras horn + -tēs noun suffix; earlier in sense “asp,” Middle English < Medieval Latin, Latin, as above

Example sentences from the Web for cerastes

British Dictionary definitions for cerastes

cerastes
/ (səˈræstiːz) /

noun plural -tes

any venomous snake of the genus Cerastes, esp the horned viper

Word Origin for cerastes

C16: from Latin: horned serpent, from Greek kerastēs horned, from keras horn