water moccasin

noun

the cottonmouth.
any of various similar but harmless snakes, as a water snake of the genus Nerodia.

Origin of water moccasin

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Words nearby water moccasin

water measurer, water meter, water milfoil, water mill, water mint, water moccasin, water mold, water motor, water music, water nymph, water oak

Example sentences from the Web for water moccasin

  • The water-moccasin will not trouble you if you let him alone.

    Down South |Oliver Optic

  • The water-moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorous) is dark chestnut-brown with darker markings.

    Elementary Zoology, Second Edition |Vernon L. Kellogg

  • The water-moccasin is about two feet in length, and has a circumference of five or six inches.

    Voyage of the Paper Canoe |Nathaniel H. Bishop

British Dictionary definitions for water moccasin

water moccasin

noun

a large dark grey venomous snake, Agkistrodon piscivorus, of swamps in the southern US: family Crotalidae (pit vipers) Also called: cottonmouth