Agkistrodon

noun

Ag·​kis·​tro·​don

ag-ˈki-strə-ˌdän,

aŋ-

: a genus of pit vipers including the American copperhead and water moccasin

—used generally instead of the technically preferable Ancistrodon

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek ánkistron (unconventionally transliterated with g for Greek gamma nasal) "fishhook" + -odōn -odon

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

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