sea snake

any of several venomous marine snakes of the family Hydrophidae, having a finlike tail.

Origin of sea snake

First recorded in 1745–55

Soon after, we saw a sea-snake, in every respect like those we had before seen at the tropical islands.

A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 14 |Robert Kerr
A sea-snake was also seen in the evening, it appeared to be six or seven feet long.

Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume X |Various
The red egg of the sea-snake was a powerful talisman, whose virtue nothing could equal; it was to be worn around the neck.

The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical |Frank H. Stauffer
He had always thought it incredible that the boa-constrictor should be larger than any sea-snake.

A Simpleton |Charles Reade

There wasn't no threshin' around and flurryin', but the vicious brute acted just like some kind of a sea-snake.

The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries |Francis Rolt-Wheeler

sea snake

any venomous snake of the family Hydrophiidae, of tropical seas, that swims by means of a laterally compressed oarlike tail