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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