rattlesnake

noun

rat·​tle·​snake ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: 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

Illustration of rattlesnake

Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Running from a rattlesnake or making any other sudden movement is not recommended. The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 An armadillo, an opossum and even a rattlesnake are expected to predict the weather this February. USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2024 While the Florida panther has been Miller’s most epic wildlife encounter at the preserve, his favorite resident critters are the rattlesnakes. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 The store has housed surprises over the years: a live rattlesnake, a 40-carat emerald, Egyptian artifacts and even a guidance system for an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, which was returned to the Navy. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2023 Surprisingly, in an in-depth look at rattlesnake genomes across the western U.S., researchers found that venom genes exhibit more genetic diversity than expected under this scenario. Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Donkey, as she is known, absorbs wisdom from Herself, and loves everything about the island, including the shy rattlesnakes. Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2024 The Black Mountain Open Space is a 2,352-acre park managed by the city of San Diego that is home to critters like rattlesnakes and coyotes as well as plant life like toyon, California sagebrush and prickly pear. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2023 As a result, survivors of rattlesnake bites in Southern California, for instance, get a second painful surprise when presented with hospital bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rattlesnake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rattlesnake was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near rattlesnake

Cite this Entry

“Rattlesnake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattlesnake. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rattlesnake

noun
rat·​tle·​snake ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce rattlesnake (audio)
: 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
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