puff adder

American  

noun

1. a large, thick-bodied, African viper, Bitis arietans, that inflates its body and hisses when disturbed.

2. a similar viper, B. inornata, native to southern Africa.

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puff adder British  

noun

1. a large venomous African viper, Bitis arietans, that is yellowish-grey with brown markings and inflates its body when alarmed

2. another name for hognose snake

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Etymology

Origin of puff adder

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Her team then checked this in a variety of snakes - dissecting a total of nine species including the carpet python, puff adder and Mexican moccasin.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2022

A guy came in with a puff adder on a stick, that kind of thing.

From The Verge • Aug. 28, 2018

They take lightly the threatening antics of the puff adder, but have plenty of respect for the swift black mamba, most dreaded of Af rican snakes, whose bite can kill in five minutes.

From Time Magazine Archive

At the edge of a lake, a giant buffalo bellowed loudly for its mate; a frightened puff adder shot through the grass with incredible speed.

From Time Magazine Archive

A puff adder is the ugliest of all snakes.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck