hundred pacer
hundred pacer Lexical Profile
• noun
A highly venomous pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus) native to southern China, Taiwan, and parts of Southeast Asia, characterized by its distinctly upturned snout and a potent hemotoxic venom.
"While trekking through the dense forests of Taiwan, the guide cautioned the group to carefully watch their step to avoid startling a resting hundred pacer."
Word Nuance & Usage
This term is a colloquial common name for the Asian pit viper Deinagkistrodon acutus. In formal herpetological contexts, it is more commonly referred to as the sharp-nosed pit viper.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from a literal translation of its Chinese name (bǎi bù shé), originating from a local myth that a person bitten by this highly venomous snake will only be able to walk a hundred paces before collapsing and dying.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.