Snake n.  Zool. Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.
 Note: ☞ Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number are harmless to man.
 Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc.
 Fetich snake Zool., a large African snake (Python Sebae) used by the natives as a fetich.
 Ringed snake Zool., a common European columbrine snake (Tropidonotus natrix).
 Snake eater. Zool. (a) The markhoor. (b) The secretary bird.
 Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.]
 Snake fly Zool., any one of several species of neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and elongated neck and prothorax.
 Snake gourd Bot., a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber.
 Snake killer. Zool. (a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock.
 Snake moss Bot., the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium.
 Snake nut Bot., the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up.
 Tree snake Zool., any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied genera.


 Blind a.
 1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect or by deprivation; without sight.
 He that is strucken blind can not forget
 The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.   --Shak.
 2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of intellectual light; unable or unwilling to understand or judge; as, authors are blind to their own defects.
 But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more,
 That they may stumble on, and deeper fall.   --Milton.
 3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate.
    This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation.   --Jay.
 4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to a person who is blind; not well marked or easily discernible; hidden; unseen; concealed; as, a blind path; a blind ditch.
 5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced.
    The blind mazes of this tangled wood.   --Milton.
 6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall; open only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut.
 7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind passage in a book; illegible; as, blind writing.
 8. Hort. Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as, blind buds; blind flowers.
 Blind alley, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac.
 Blind axle, an axle which turns but does not communicate motion. --Knight.
 Blind beetle, one of the insects apt to fly against people, esp. at night.
 Blind cat Zool., a species of catfish (Gronias nigrolabris), nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns in Pennsylvania.
 Blind coal, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal. --Simmonds.
 Blind door, Blind window, an imitation of a door or window, without an opening for passage or light. See Blank door or Blank window, under Blank, a.
 Blind level Mining, a level or drainage gallery which has a vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted siphon. --Knight.
 Blind nettle Bot., dead nettle. See Dead nettle, under Dead.
 Blind shell Gunnery, a shell containing no charge, or one that does not explode.
 Blind side, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak or unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or disposed to see danger. --Swift.
 Blind snake Zool., a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of the family Typhlopidæ, with rudimentary eyes.
 Blind spot Anat., the point in the retina of the eye where the optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to light.
 Blind tooling, in bookbinding and leather work, the indented impression of heated tools, without gilding; -- called also blank tooling, and blind blocking.
 Blind wall, a wall without an opening; a blank wall.


 blind snake
      n : wormlike burrowing snake of warm regions having vestigial
          eyes [syn: worm snake]