| 释义 |
ˈwhip-snake
Name for various serpents of long slender form like a whip-lash, as Masticophis flagelliformis of N. America, Philodryas viridissimus of Brazil, Hoplocephalus flagellum of Australia. In southern Africa, a grass or sand snake of the genus Psammophis, esp. P. notostictus.
1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 203 In the tropical climates, the rattle-snake, the whip-snake, and the cobra di capello, are the most formidable. 1813J. Forbes Oriental Mem. I. 199 The Concan abounds with serpents..: one of the most dangerous is a long snake of a beautiful green; in form resembling the lash of a coach-whip, from whence it is called the whip-snake. 1825Waterton Wand. S. Amer. i. (1903) 9 The whipsnake, of a beautiful changing green,..may be handled with safety. 1880J. Nixon Among Boers ii. 45 He had all but put his foot upon a whip snake. These snakes are small and slender, being only as thick as the little finger. 1887R. M. Praed Longleat Kooralbyn xx, A whip-snake..made a dart at Barrington's arm. 1898E. D. Cope Crocodil., etc. N. Amer. (1900) 789 The species of this genus [sc. Zamenis] are elongate in form and active in movement, so that the popular names of ‘whip-snake’ and ‘racer’ are appropriate. 1912F. W. Fitzsimons Snakes S. Afr. (new ed.) 462 The Grass and Sand Snake, when alarmed, glide off over the stunted herbage... Colonists know these as Whip Snakes. 1952Cape Times 24 Apr. 9/2 As schoolboys were walking along the road..they saw a whipsnake. |