nachtslang, noun
- Forms:
- Also nachtschlange, nachtslaang.
- Origin:
- South African DutchShow more South African Dutch, nacht night + slang snake, serpent.
obs.
Any of several nocturnal snakes. 1. night-adder sense 1. 2. Either of two snakes of the Elapidae: a. garter snake; b. the coral snake, Aspidelaps lubricus lubricus. 3. night-adder sense 2. In all senses also called night-serpent, night-snake.
1821 C.I. Latrobe Jrnl of Visit 124The bite of the Nachtschlange, or night-serpent, is said by the Hottentot poison-doctors, to be uncurable. It is..marked with dark blue or black, vermilion, and yellow rings.
1937 Guide to Vertebrate Fauna of E. Cape Prov. (Albany Museum) II. 54Lamprophis aurora Linn. Nachtslang,..Olive brown or light olive-green above, with a long golden yellow line or row of orange spots from the top of the head along the centre of the back to the tip of the tail.
the coral snake, Aspidelaps lubricus lubricus.
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