See Also: Rattlesnake(medicine)
rattlesnake(dictionary)
rattlesnake(encyclopedia)
rattlesnake(dictionary)
rattlesnake bite(medicine)

rattlesnake (iou)



rattlesnake noun & verb. M17.
[from RATTLE noun, verb1 + SNAKE noun.]
A. noun.
Any of several venomous American pit vipers of the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus (family Crotalidae), having a series of loosely connected horny rings at the end of the tail which make a rattling noise when shaken. M17.
In full rattlesnake cocktail. A cocktail made from whisky mixed with pernod, lemon juice, and sugar. M19.
Comb.: rattlesnake fern a N. American moonwort, Botrychium virginianum, with sporangia suggesting the rattles of a rattlesnake; rattlesnake master any of various US plants reputedly efficacious against rattlesnake bites, esp. the umbellifer Eryngium yuccifolium; rattlesnake plantain any of several N. American orchids of the genus Goodyera, with mottled leaves; rattlesnake root (the root of) any of several N. American plants reputedly curing rattlesnake bites, esp. senega root, Polygala senega, and white lettuce, Prenanthes alba; rattlesnake's master = rattlesnake master above; rattlesnake weed a N. American hawkweed, Hieracium venosum, with purple-veined leaves.
b. verb. rare.
verb trans. Deceive, trick. E19.
verb intrans. & trans. Snake along with a rattling sound; make (one's way) in this manner. M20.