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vipermore about viper

viper

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Viper  \Vi"per\,  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}.] 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  Old  World 
  venomous  makes  belonging  to  {Vipera},  {Clotho},  {Daboia}, 
  and  other  genera  of  the  family  {Viperid[ae]}. 
 
  There  came  a  viper  out  of  the  heat,  and  fastened  on 
  his  hand.  --Acts  xxviii. 
  3. 
 
  Note:  Among  the  best-known  species  are  the  European  adder 
  ({Pelias  berus}),  the  European  asp  ({Vipera  aspis}), 
  the  African  horned  viper  ({V.  cerastes}),  and  the 
  Indian  viper  ({Daboia  Russellii}). 
 
  2.  A  dangerous,  treacherous,  or  malignant  person. 
 
  Who  committed  To  such  a  viper  his  most  sacred  trust 
  Of  secrecy.  --Milton. 
 
  {Horned  viper}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Cerastes}. 
 
  {Red  viper}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  copperhead. 
 
  {Viper  fish}  (Zo["o]l.),  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  viper 
  n  :  venomous  Old  World  snakes  characterized  by  hollow 
  venom-conducting  fangs  in  the  upper  jaw 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Viper 
  In  Job  20:16,  Isa.  30:6;  59:5,  the  Heb.  word  eph'eh  is  thus 
  rendered.  The  Hebrew  word  however,  probably  denotes  a  species 
  of  poisonous  serpents  known  by  the  Arabic  name  of  'el  ephah. 
  Tristram  has  identified  it  with  the  sand  viper,  a  species  of 
  small  size  common  in  sandy  regions,  and  frequently  found  under 
  stones  by  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea.  It  is  rapid  in  its 
  movements,  and  highly  poisonous.  In  the  New  Testament  _echidne_ 
  is  used  (Matt.  3:7;  12:34;  23:33)  for  any  poisonous  snake.  The 
  viper  mentioned  in  Acts  28:3  was  probably  the  vipera  aspis,  or 
  the  Mediterranean  viper.  (See  {ADDER}.)




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