elapine Hear it!

elapine definition

ela·pine (el′ə pīn′, -pin, -pēn′)

adjective

of or pertaining to a family (Elapidae) of poisonous snakes with small, erect fangs, including the cobras and coral snakes

Etymology: < ModL Elapinae, name of the subfamily < Elaps, a genus of venomous snakes (< MGr elaps serpent, fish, altered < Gr ellops + -inae, -inae

Related Forms:

  • elapid el′a·pid′ (-pid′) noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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