pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World vipers (subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae) with a sensory pit on each side of the head and hollow perforated retractable fangs

Examples of pit viper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On top of that, many snakes, including pit vipers, have infrared vision. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024

Specifically that means pit vipers, which includes timber rattlesnakes (found in Connecticut) and copperheads and water moccasins. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2024

This behavior might stem from the presence of several nearby predators, including larger geckos and pit vipers, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 3 June 2024

The new species, compared to other pit vipers, has slightly smaller males while females are a bit bigger than others, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World poisonous snakes that have a small pit on each side of the head and hollow fangs with holes in them

Medical Definition

pit viper

noun

: any of various mostly New World highly specialized venomous snakes (as the rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin, and fer-de-lance) that belong to a subfamily (Crotalinae) of the family Viperidae, that have a small depression on each side of the head between the eye and the nostril, and that have hollow perforated fangs usually folded back in the upper part of the mouth but erected in striking