night-snake, noun

Origin:
Translation of South African Dutch nachtslang.
obsolescent
nachtslang.
1819 G.M. Keith Voy. 71The night snake, more beautiful than any of the others, about 20 inches long, very thin, belted with black, red and yellow, and when near, at night has the appearance of fire.
1849 A. Smith Illust. of Zoo. of S. Afr.: Reptilia 21Aspidelaps Lubricus,..Nacht Slang of the Cape Colonists...It moves about principally in the evening, or during the night, hence the Colonists call it Night-Snake.
1954 J.A. Pringle Common Snakes 12Olive Night-snake..non-venomous..is a quiet, docile snake..mainly confined to the coastal belt from Cape Town to north of Durban.
1962 V.F.M. Fitzsimons Snakes of Sn Afr. 112Lamprophis aurora..Aurora — or Night-snake.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18191962

Browse Related Words

By Category

Reptiles and Amphibians

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
night-serpent, nounn.nikkies, verb transitivev.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English