| 释义 |
ˈwater-snake
1. Any snake that inhabits or frequents the water. Variously applied spec. to snakes of the tropical family Hydrophidæ, to certain Indian and American serpents, and, in England, sometimes to the common ringed snake, Tropidonotus natrix.
1601Holland Pliny xxix. iv. II. 358 The goodliest and fairest snakes to see too, are those which live in the water, and are called Hydra, i. water-snakes. 1631Chapman Cæsar & Pompey i. i. 19 Looke how against great raines, a standing Poole Of Paddockes, Todes, and water-Snakes put vp Their speckl'd throates aboue the venemous Lake. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 48 Yet so good is Providence, as to warn us here,..by Water-Snakes, of our too near approach to the Land. 1768G. White Selborne, To Pennant 18 June, Country people talk much of a water-snake, but, I am pretty sure, without any reason; for the common snake (coluber natrix) delights much to sport in the water. 1778J. Carver Trav. N. Amer. xviii. 486 The Water Snake is much like the Rattle Snake in shape and size, but is not endowed with the same venemous powers, being quite harmless. 1798Coleridge Anc. Mar. iv. 273 Beyond the shadow of the ship, I watched the water-snakes. 1836W. Irving Astoria xvi. I. 265 Aquatic plants, on the broad leaves of which numbers of water snakes..were basking. 1883C. A. Moloney W. Afr. Fisheries 43 In West Africa man has competitors as fish destroyers, such as the crocodile, shark,..water snake, turtle,..etc.
†2. Jocularly applied to a boatman. Obs.
1609Dekker Guls Horne-bk. vi. 31 That dividing of your Fare wil make the poore watersnaks be ready to pul you in peeces to enioy your custome.
3. Astr. (With capital initial.) The Southern constellation Hydrus.
1756J. Ferguson Astron. Expl. xx. (1757) 234. 1866 Proctor Handbk. Stars 70. |