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Definition of coachwhip
coachwhip
/ˈkoʊtʃˌwɪp/
coach · whip
Plural:coachwhips
coachwhip Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A long, slender, fast-moving non-venomous snake native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, known for its braided scale pattern that resembles a traditional whip.
Example
"While hiking through the arid scrubland, we spotted a coachwhip darting rapidly across the sandy trail."
2
A long, heavy whip typically used by a driver to control horses pulling a coach or carriage.
Example
"The driver cracked the coachwhip in the air to signal the stagecoach horses to move faster."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for coachwhip• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'coach' and 'whip'. The snake was named in the 18th century due to its physical resemblance to the braided leather of a carriage driver's whip.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Coachwhip. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/coachwhip