cobra

1
[ koh-bruh ]
/ ˈkoʊ brə /

noun

any of several highly venomous, Old World elapid snakes of the genera Naja and Ophiophagus, characterized by the ability to flatten the neck into a hoodlike form when disturbed.
any of several similar, related African snakes, as the ringhals.
leather made from the skin of a cobra.
(initial capital letter) Military. a single-engine, two-seat U.S. Army attack helicopter armed with missiles, rockets, and a 20mm cannon and in service since 1977.

Origin of cobra

1
First recorded in 1810–20; short for cobra de capello

Definition for cobra (2 of 2)

cobra 2
[ koh-bruh, kob-ruh ]
/ ˈkoʊ brə, ˈkɒb rə /

noun Australian.

head; skull.

Origin of cobra

2
First recorded in 1825–35, cobra is from the Dharuk word gabarā

Example sentences from the Web for cobra

British Dictionary definitions for cobra (1 of 2)

cobra
/ (ˈkəʊbrə) /

noun

any highly venomous elapid snake of the genus Naja, such as N. naja (Indian cobra), of tropical Africa and Asia. When alarmed they spread the skin of the neck region into a hood
any related snake, such as the king cobra

Word Origin for cobra

C19: from Portuguese cobra ( de capello) snake (with a hood), from Latin colubra snake

British Dictionary definitions for cobra (2 of 2)

COBRA
/ (ˈkəʊbrə) /

n acronym for

(in the UK) Cabinet Office Briefing Room A: the civil contingencies committee that leads the UK's responses to crises such as terrorist attacks and epidemics