snakemouth

[ sneyk-mouth ]

noun

, plural snake·mouths [sneyk, -mou, th, z].

1. rose pogonia.

snakemouth

/ ˈsneɪkˌmaʊθ /

noun

1. a terrestrial orchid, Pogonia ophioglossoides, of E North America, having solitary fragrant pinkish-purple flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of snakemouth¹

1810–20, Americanism; snake + mouth; so called because of the resemblance of the flower to a snake's open mouth

Word History and Origins

Origin of snakemouth¹

so called because of the alleged similarity between the shape of the flower and a snake's mouth