Snake \Snake\, n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel.
   sn[=a]kr, sn?kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.]
   (Zool.)
   Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent,
   whether harmless or venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.
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   Note: Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the
         larger number are harmless to man.
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   Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake,
   Milk snake, Rock snake, Water snake, etc. See under
      Blind, Garter, etc.

   Fetich snake (Zool.), a large African snake (Python
      Sebae) used by the natives as a fetich.

   Ringed snake (Zool.), a common European columbrine snake
      (Tropidonotus natrix).

   Snake eater. (Zool.)
   (a) The markhoor.
   (b) The secretary bird.

   Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.]

   Snake fly (Zool.), any one of several species of
      neuropterous insects of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so
      called because of their large head and elongated neck and
      prothorax.

   Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant (Trichosanthes
      anguina) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than
      that of the serpent cucumber.

   Snake killer. (Zool.)
   (a) The secretary bird.
   (b) The chaparral cock.

   Snake moss (Bot.), the common club moss (Lycopodium
      clavatum). See Lycopodium.

   Snake nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree
      (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of Guiana, the embryo of which
      resembles a snake coiled up.

   Tree snake (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
      colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees,
      especially those of the genus Dendrophis and allied
      genera.
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Chaparral \Cha`par*ral"\, n. [Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen
   oak.]
   1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
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   2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets
      of thorny shrubs and brambles.
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   Chaparral cock; fem. Chaparral hen (Zool.), a bird of the
      cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for
      running with great speed. It ranges from California to
      Mexico and eastward to Texas; -- called also road
      runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killer. It
      is the state bird of New Mexico.
      [1913 Webster +PJC] chapati