viper
viper definition
vi·per (vī′pər)
noun
- any of a widespread family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes, including the pit vipers, the European adder, and the African puff adder; solenoglyph
- any of various other poisonous or supposedly poisonous snakes
- a malicious or spiteful person
- a treacherous person
Etymology: OFr < L vipera, contr. < ? *vivipara, producing live young < vivus, living (see bio-) + parere, to bear: see -parous: from the notion that the viper does not lay eggs
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