king cobra


noun

a cobra, Ophiophagus hannah, of southeastern Asia and the East Indies, that grows to a length of more than 15 feet (5 meters): the largest of the venomous snakes.
Also called hamadryad.

Origin of king cobra

First recorded in 1890–95

Example sentences from the Web for king cobra

  • As well as he could judge the king-cobra was more than seventeen feet long.

    The Elephant God |Gordon Casserly
  • For the thing that glinted softly was a golden bracelet with the figure of a king-cobra wrought in heavy relief upon it.

    Caravans By Night |Harry Hervey
  • I kept its skin as a companion to the king-cobra we had killed in Buxa.

    Life in an Indian Outpost |Gordon Casserly

British Dictionary definitions for king cobra

king cobra

noun

a very large venomous tropical Asian elapid snake, Ophiophagus hannah, that feeds on snakes and other reptiles and extends its neck into a hood when alarmed Also called: hamadryad