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Definition of echis
echis
/ˈɛk.ɪs/
ech · is
Plural:echis
echis Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of highly venomous vipers, commonly known as saw-scaled vipers or carpet vipers, native to dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, noted for producing a warning sound by rubbing their serrated scales together.
Example
"Due to its potent venom, aggressive disposition, and presence in highly populated agricultural areas, the echis is responsible for more snakebite deaths worldwide than any other genus."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for echisWord Nuance & Usage
When referring to the taxonomic genus, the word is typically capitalized and italicized as Echis. It may appear in lowercase when casually referring to individual snakes of this genus.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived directly from Ancient Greek ἔχις (ékhis), meaning 'viper' or 'snake'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Echis. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/echis