vipera aspis

3 definitions found

vipera aspis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.]
     [1913 Webster]
     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).
           [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [PJC]
  
     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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  Asp \Asp\ ([.a]sp), n. [L. aspis, fr. Gr. 'aspi`s: cf. OF. aspe,
     F. aspic.] (Zool.)
     A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent
     countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje.
     The name is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to
     Vipera aspis of southern Europe. See Haje.
     [1913 Webster]

vipera aspis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Vipera aspis
      n 1: of southern Europe; similar to but smaller than the adder
           [syn: asp, asp viper, Vipera aspis]