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Definition of gaboon viper
gaboon viper
Plural:gaboon vipers
gaboon viper Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, heavy-bodied venomous snake native to the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by its intricate geometric camouflage, extremely long fangs, and massive venom yield.
Example
"The Gaboon viper relies on its superb leaflike camouflage to ambush prey on the forest floor rather than actively hunting."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for gaboon viperWord Origin & Etymology
Named after the Gaboon estuary (in present-day Gabon) in Central Africa, combined with 'viper', which stems from the Latin 'vipera' (live-bearing snake).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gaboon viper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gaboon viper