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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
king snake
    n 1: any of numerous nonvenomous North American constrictors;
         feed on other snakes and small mammals [syn: king snake,
         kingsnake]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the
         larger number are harmless to man.
         [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
King \King\, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D.
   koning, OHG. kuning, G. k["o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung,
   Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root
   of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See
   Kin.]
   1. A chief ruler; a sovereign; one invested with supreme
      authority over a nation, country, or tribe, usually by
      hereditary succession; a monarch; a prince. "Ay, every
      inch a king." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are
            rebels from principle.                --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

            There was a State without king or nobles. --R.
                                                  Choate.
      [1913 Webster]

            But yonder comes the powerful King of Day,
            Rejoicing in the east                 --Thomson.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who, or that which, holds a supreme position or rank;
      a chief among competitors; as, a railroad king; a money
      king; the king of the lobby; the king of beasts.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A playing card having the picture of a king[1]; as, the
      king of diamonds.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The chief piece in the game of chess.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A crowned man in the game of draughts.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. pl. The title of two historical books in the Old
      Testament.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: King is often used adjectively, or in combination, to
         denote pre["e]minence or superiority in some
         particular; as, kingbird; king crow; king vulture.
         [1913 Webster]

   Apostolic king. See Apostolic.

   King-at-arms, or King-of-arms, the chief heraldic officer
      of a country. In England the king-at-arms was formerly of
      great authority. His business is to direct the heralds,
      preside at their chapters, and have the jurisdiction of
      armory. There are three principal kings-at-arms, viz.,
      Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy. The latter (literally
      north roy or north king) officiates north of the Trent.

   King auk (Zool.), the little auk or sea dove.

   King bird of paradise. (Zool.), See Bird of paradise.

   King card, in whist, the best unplayed card of each suit;
      thus, if the ace and king of a suit have been played, the
      queen is the king card of the suit.

   King Cole, a legendary king of Britain, who is said to have
      reigned in the third century.

   King conch (Zool.), a large and handsome univalve shell
      (Cassis cameo), found in the West Indies. It is used for
      making cameos. See Helmet shell, under Helmet.

   King Cotton, a popular personification of the great staple
      production of the southern United States.

   King crab. (Zool.)
      (a) The limulus or horseshoe crab. See Limulus.
      (b) The large European spider crab or thornback (Maia
          squinado).
      (c) A large crab of the northern Pacific (Paralithodes
          camtshatica), especially abundant on the coasts of
          Alaska and Japan, and popular as a food; called also
          Alaskan king crab.

   King crow. (Zool.)
      (a) A black drongo shrike (Buchanga atra) of India; --
          so called because, while breeding, they attack and
          drive away hawks, crows, and other large birds.
      (b) The Dicrurus macrocercus of India, a crested bird
          with a long, forked tail. Its color is black, with
          green and blue reflections. Called also devil bird.
          

   King duck (Zool.), a large and handsome eider duck
      (Somateria spectabilis), inhabiting the arctic regions
      of both continents.

   King eagle (Zool.), an eagle (Aquila heliaca) found in
      Asia and Southeastern Europe. It is about as large as the
      golden eagle. Some writers believe it to be the imperial
      eagle of Rome.

   King hake (Zool.), an American hake (Phycis regius),
      found in deep water along the Atlantic coast.

   King monkey (Zool.), an African monkey (Colobus
      polycomus), inhabiting Sierra Leone.

   King mullet (Zool.), a West Indian red mullet (Upeneus
      maculatus); -- so called on account of its great beauty.
      Called also goldfish.

   King of terrors, death.

   King parrakeet (Zool.), a handsome Australian parrakeet
      (Platycercys scapulatus), often kept in a cage. Its
      prevailing color is bright red, with the back and wings
      bright green, the rump blue, and tail black.

   King penguin (Zool.), any large species of penguin of the
      genus Aptenodytes; esp., Aptenodytes longirostris, of
      the Falkland Islands and Kerguelen Land, and Aptenodytes
      Patagonica, of Patagonia.

   King rail (Zool.), a small American rail (Rallus
      elegans), living in fresh-water marshes. The upper parts
      are fulvous brown, striped with black; the breast is deep
      cinnamon color.

   King salmon (Zool.), the quinnat. See Quinnat.

   King's counsel, or Queen's counsel (Eng. Law), barristers
      learned in the law, who have been called within the bar,
      and selected to be the king's or queen's counsel. They
      answer in some measure to the advocates of the revenue
      (advocati fisci) among the Romans. They can not be
      employed against the crown without special license.
      --Wharton's Law Dict.

   King's cushion, a temporary seat made by two persons
      crossing their hands. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.

   The king's English, correct or current language of good
      speakers; pure English. --Shak.

   King's evidence or Queen's evidence, testimony in favor
      of the Crown by a witness who confesses his guilt as an
      accomplice. See under Evidence. [Eng.]

   King's evil, scrofula; -- so called because formerly
      supposed to be healed by the touch of a king.

   King snake (Zool.), a large, nearly black, harmless snake
      (Ophiobolus getulus) of the Southern United States; --
      so called because it kills and eats other kinds of snakes,
      including even the rattlesnake.

   King's spear (Bot.), the white asphodel (Asphodelus
      albus).

   King's yellow, a yellow pigment, consisting essentially of
      sulphide and oxide of arsenic; -- called also yellow
      orpiment.

   King tody (Zool.), a small fly-catching bird (Eurylaimus
      serilophus) of tropical America. The head is adorned with
      a large, spreading, fan-shaped crest, which is bright red,
      edged with black.

   King vulture (Zool.), a large species of vulture
      (Sarcorhamphus papa), ranging from Mexico to Paraguay,
      The general color is white. The wings and tail are black,
      and the naked carunculated head and the neck are
      briliantly colored with scarlet, yellow, orange, and blue.
      So called because it drives away other vultures while
      feeding.

   King wood, a wood from Brazil, called also violet wood,
      beautifully streaked in violet tints, used in turning and
      small cabinetwork. The tree is probably a species of
      Dalbergia. See Jacaranda.
      [1913 Webster]

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