ringhals

(riŋhals)

noun pl. ringhals or ringhalses

a small, rough-skinned spitting cobra (Hemachatus hemachatus) of S Africa that usually sprays jets of venom at the eyes of an aggressor

Origin: Afrik, obs. sp. of rinkals < Du ring (see ring) + hals, neck: see collar

See ringhals in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ring·hals·es
An African snake (Hemachatus haemachatus) that spits venom at the eyes of an attacker, sometimes causing blindness. Also called spitting cobra.

Origin:

Origin: Obsolete Afrikaans

Origin: : ring, ring (from Middle Dutch rinc; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + hals, neck (from Middle Dutch; see kwel-1 in Indo-European roots)

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