coral snake

noun

any of numerous venomous elapid snakes, found chiefly in the New World tropics, as Micrurus fulvius (eastern coral snake), of the southeastern U.S., often brilliantly marked with bands of red, yellow, and black.
any of several other snakes, as of the genus Calliophis, of Asia, having red markings.

Origin of coral snake

First recorded in 1750–50

Words nearby coral snake

coral lily, coral pink, coral plant, coral reef, coral sea, coral snake, coral springs, coral tree, coral trout, coral vine, coralberry

Example sentences from the Web for coral snake

  • The coral-snake is much the same in color, and only a close observer would notice the difference.

    On the Trail |Lina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard

  • The harlequin snake and the coral-snake are so similar in color and in habits, one description for both will answer our purpose.

    On the Trail |Lina Beard and Adelia Belle Beard

British Dictionary definitions for coral snake

coral snake

noun

any venomous elapid snake of the genus Micrurus and related genera, of tropical and subtropical America, marked with red, black, yellow, and white transverse bands
any of various other brightly coloured elapid snakes of Africa and SE Asia