horned viper
    n 1: highly venomous viper of northern Africa and southwestern
         Asia having a horny spine above each eye [syn: horned
         viper, cerastes, sand viper, horned asp, Cerastes
         cornutus]

Horned \Horned\, a.
   Furnished with a horn or horns; furnished with a hornlike
   process or appendage; as, horned cattle; having some part
   shaped like a horn.
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         The horned moon with one bright star
         Within the nether tip.                   --Coleridge.
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   Horned bee (Zool.), a British wild bee (Osmia bicornis),
      having two little horns on the head.

   Horned dace (Zool.), an American cyprinoid fish (Semotilus
      corporialis) common in brooks and ponds; the common chub.
      See Illust. of Chub.

   Horned frog (Zool.), a very large Brazilian frog
      (Ceratophrys cornuta), having a pair of triangular horns
      arising from the eyelids.

   Horned grebe (Zool.), a species of grebe (Colymbus
      auritus), of Arctic Europe and America, having two dense
      tufts of feathers on the head.

   Horned horse (Zool.), the gnu.

   Horned lark (Zool.), the shore lark.

   Horned lizard (Zool.), the horned toad.

   Horned owl (Zool.), a large North American owl (Bubo
      Virginianus), having a pair of elongated tufts of
      feathers on the head. Several distinct varieties are
      known; as, the Arctic, Western, dusky, and striped horned
      owls, differing in color, and inhabiting different
      regions; -- called also great horned owl, horn owl,
      eagle owl, and cat owl. Sometimes also applied to the
      long-eared owl. See Eared owl, under Eared.

   Horned poppy. (Bot.) See Horn poppy, under Horn.

   Horned pout (Zool.), an American fresh-water siluroid fish;
      the bullpout.

   Horned rattler (Zool.), a species of rattlesnake (Crotalus
      cerastes), inhabiting the dry, sandy plains, from
      California to Mexico. It has a pair of triangular horns
      between the eyes; -- called also sidewinder.

   Horned ray (Zool.), the sea devil.

   Horned screamer (Zool.), the kamichi.

   Horned snake (Zool.), the cerastes.

   Horned toad (Zool.), any lizard of the genus Phrynosoma,
      of which nine or ten species are known. These lizards have
      several hornlike spines on the head, and a broad, flat
      body, covered with spiny scales. They inhabit the dry,
      sandy plains from California to Mexico and Texas. Called
      also horned lizard.

   Horned viper. (Zool.) See Cerastes.
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Plume \Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Pluming.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
   cover with feathers.]
   1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
      prink.
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            Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
                                                  Irving.
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   2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
      also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
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   3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed
      troop." --Shak.
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   4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
      plumes himself on his skill. --South.
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   Plumed adder (Zool.), an African viper (Vipera cornuta,
      syn. Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over
      each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African
      puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman.

   Plumed partridge (Zool.), the California mountain quail
      (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under
      Mountain.
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viper \vi"per\ (v[imac]"p[~e]r), n. [F. vip[`e]re, L. vipera,
   probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring
   forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that
   brings forth living young. Cf. Quick, a., Parent,
   Viviparous, Wivern, Weever.]
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   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous
      snakes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and
      other genera of the family Viperidae.
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            There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on
            his hand.                             --Acts xxviii.
                                                  3.
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   Note: Among the best-known species are the European adder
         (Pelias berus), the European asp (Vipera aspis),
         the African horned viper (Vipera cerastes), and the
         Indian viper (Daboia Russellii).
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   2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.
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            Who committed
            To such a viper his most sacred trust
            Of secrecy.                           --Milton.
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   3. Loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake.
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   Horned viper. (Zool.) See Cerastes.

   Red viper (Zool.), the copperhead.

   Viper fish (Zool.), a small, slender, phosphorescent
      deep-sea fish (Chauliodus Sloanii). It has long ventral
      and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp
      teeth.

   Viper's bugloss (Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb
      (Echium vulgare) having showy purplish blue flowers. It
      is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed
      in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called blue
      weed.

   Viper's grass (Bot.), a perennial composite herb
      (Scorzonera Hispanica) with narrow, entire leaves, and
      solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white,
      carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some
      other countries. Called also viper grass.
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