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.
 Cha·par·ral n.
 1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
 2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles.
 Chaparral cock; fem. Chaparral hen Zool., a bird of the cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for running with great speed. It ranges from California to Mexico and eastward to Texas; -- called also road runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killer.  It is the state bird of New Mexico.
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