Serpent \Ser"pent\, n. [F., fr. L. serpens, -entis (sc. bestia),
fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to Gr. ???,
Skr. sarp, and perhaps to L. repere, E. reptile. Cf.
Herpes.]
1. (Zool.) Any reptile of the order Ophidia; a snake,
especially a large snake. See Illust. under Ophidia.
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Note: The serpents are mostly long and slender, and move
partly by bending the body into undulations or folds
and pressing them against objects, and partly by using
the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to
rough surfaces. Many species glide swiftly over the
ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees.
A few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. See
Ophidia, and Fang.
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2. Fig.: A subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
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3. A species of firework having a serpentine motion as it
passess through the air or along the ground.
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4. (Astron.) The constellation Serpens.
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5. (Mus.) A bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone,
formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes
introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form.
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Pharaoh's serpent (Chem.), mercuric sulphocyanate, a
combustible white substance which in burning gives off a
poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous
residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. It is
employed as a scientific toy.
Serpent cucumber (Bot.), the long, slender, serpentine
fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant Trichosanthes
colubrina; also, the plant itself.
Serpent eage (Zool.), any one of several species of
raptorial birds of the genera Circaetus and Spilornis,
which prey on serpents. They inhabit Africa, Southern
Europe, and India. The European serpent eagle is
Circaetus Gallicus.
Serpent eater. (Zool.)
(a) The secretary bird.
(b) An Asiatic antelope; the markhoor.
Serpent fish (Zool.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a
long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running
lengthwise.
Serpent star (Zool.), an ophiuran; a brittle star.
Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; --
so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.
Serpent withe (Bot.), a West Indian climbing plant
(Aristolochia odoratissima).
Tree serpent (Zool.), any species of African serpents
belonging to the family Dendrophidae.
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Ribbon \Rib"bon\, n. [OE. riban, OF. riban, F. ruban, probably
of German origin; cf. D. ringband collar, necklace, E. ring
circle, and band.] [Written also riband, ribband.]
1. A fillet or narrow woven fabric, commonly of silk, used
for trimming some part of a woman's attire, for badges,
and other decorative purposes.
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2. A narrow strip or shred; as, a steel or magnesium ribbon;
sails torn to ribbons.
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3. (Shipbuilding) Same as Rib-band.
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4. pl. Driving reins. [Cant] --London Athenaeum.
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5. (Her.) A bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth
as wide.
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6. (Spinning) A silver.
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Note: The blue ribbon, and The red ribbon, are phrases often
used to designate the British orders of the Garter and
of the Bath, respectively, the badges of which are
suspended by ribbons of these colors. See Blue
ribbon, under Blue.
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Ribbon fish. (Zool.)
(a) Any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped marine fish
of the family Trachypteridae, especially the species
of the genus Trachypterus, and the oarfish
(Regelecus Banksii) of the North Atlantic, which is
sometimes over twenty feet long.
(b) The hairtail, or bladefish.
(c) A small compressed marine fish of the genus Cepola,
having a long, slender, tapering tail. The European
species (Cepola rubescens) is light red throughout.
Called also band fish.
Ribbon grass (Bot.), a variety of reed canary grass having
the leaves stripped with green and white; -- called also
Lady's garters. See Reed grass, under Reed.
Ribbon seal (Zool.), a North Pacific seal (Histriophoca
fasciata). The adult male is dark brown, conspicuously
banded and striped with yellowish white.
Ribbon snake (Zool.), a common North American snake
(Eutainia saurita). It is conspicuously striped with
bright yellow and dark brown.
Ribbon Society, a society in Ireland, founded in the early
part of the 19th century in antagonism to the Orangemen.
It afterwards became an organization of tennant farmers
banded together to prevent eviction by landlords. It took
its name from the green ribbon worn by members as a badge.
Ribborn worm. (Zool.)
(a) A tapeworm.
(b) A nemertean.
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