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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Blind \Blind\, a. [AS.; akin to D., G., OS., Sw., & Dan. blind,
Icel. blindr, Goth. blinds; of uncertain origin.]
1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect
or by deprivation; without sight.
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He that is strucken blind can not forget
The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. --Shak.
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2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of
intellectual light; unable or unwilling to understand or
judge; as, authors are blind to their own defects.
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But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more,
That they may stumble on, and deeper fall. --Milton.
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3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate.
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This plan is recommended neither to blind
approbation nor to blind reprobation. --Jay.
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4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to
a person who is blind; not well marked or easily
discernible; hidden; unseen; concealed; as, a blind path;
a blind ditch.
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5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced.
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The blind mazes of this tangled wood. --Milton.
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6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall;
open only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut.
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7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind
passage in a book; illegible; as, blind writing.
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8. (Hort.) Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as,
blind buds; blind flowers.
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Blind alley, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac.
Blind axle, an axle which turns but does not communicate
motion. --Knight.
Blind beetle, one of the insects apt to fly against people,
esp. at night.
Blind cat (Zool.), a species of catfish (Gronias
nigrolabris), nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns
in Pennsylvania.
Blind coal, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal.
--Simmonds.
Blind door, Blind window, an imitation of a door or
window, without an opening for passage or light. See
Blank door or Blank window, under Blank, a.
Blind level (Mining), a level or drainage gallery which has
a vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted
siphon. --Knight.
Blind nettle (Bot.), dead nettle. See Dead nettle, under
Dead.
Blind shell (Gunnery), a shell containing no charge, or one
that does not explode.
Blind side, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak
or unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or
disposed to see danger. --Swift.
Blind snake (Zool.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of
the family Typhlopid[ae], with rudimentary eyes.
Blind spot (Anat.), the point in the retina of the eye
where the optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to
light.
Blind tooling, in bookbinding and leather work, the
indented impression of heated tools, without gilding; --
called also blank tooling, and blind blocking.
Blind wall, a wall without an opening; a blank wall.
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