snakehead

American  

[sneyk-hed] / ˈsneɪkˌhɛd /

noun

1. a turtlehead plant.

2. any elongate fish of the family Channidae (or Ophicephalidae), having a large head heads with a deeply cleft mouth and able to breathe atmospheric oxygen.

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snakehead British  

/ ˈsneɪkˌhed /

noun

1. a Chinese criminal involved in the illegal transport of Chinese citizens to other parts of the world

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Etymology

Origin of snakehead

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; snake + head

Example Sentences

In Maryland, transporting a snakehead while it is still alive is illegal.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

When he first hooked the historic fish, he thought it was a normal snakehead.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2023

The northern snakehead was caught last month in a drainage pool at Duck Creek Conservation Area.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

The northern snakehead is originally from east Asia, where they are a delicacy believed to have healing powers.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

A loose end—"a snakehead" it was called—sometimes curled up and pierced through the floor of a car, causing a wreck.

From The Age of Invention : a chronicle of mechanical conquest by Thompson, Holland