any large aggressive North American river turtle of the family Chelydridae, esp Chelydra serpentina (common snapping turtle), having powerful hooked jaws and a rough shell
Also called: snapper
snapping turtle in American English
US
any of a family (Chelydridae) of large freshwater turtles of North America, with a small shell and powerful jaws which snap with great force, esp., a common species (Chelydra serpentina)