rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken

Illustration of rattlesnake

Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kacey Musgraves' dog Pepper is healing well after taking a rattlesnake bite for her last week. —Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 28 Oct. 2024

Explore indoor and outdoor cultural and ecology exhibits (including meeting a rattlesnake up close), hands-on displays, and two multi-media theater experiences. —Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024

Project Rattle Cam operates another livestream that tracks a smaller western rattlesnake den along the central coast of California. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 16 July 2024

While rattlesnake bites are venomous and potentially dangerous, fatalities are relatively low, especially when medical attention is received quickly after a bite. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rattlesnake

• diamondback rattlesnake
• rattlesnake master
• rattlesnake plantain
• rattlesnake root
• rattlesnake weed
• timber rattlesnake

Kids Definition

rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of various poisonous American snakes with a rattle at the end of the tail

Medical Definition

rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk 

: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake