king cobra
king cobra Lexical Profile
• noun
The world's longest venomous snake, native to the forests of South and Southeast Asia, characterized by its large size, potent venom, and ability to raise the front of its body and expand its neck into a hood when threatened.
"During the wildlife documentary, the researchers carefully observed a king cobra constructing a mound nest of leaves for its eggs, a unique behavior among snakes."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the king cobra is not a true cobra of the genus Naja; it is the sole member of its own genus, Ophiophagus, which literally translates to 'snake-eater'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name combines 'king', denoting its impressive size and tendency to prey on other snakes, with 'cobra', derived from the Portuguese 'cobra de capelo' meaning 'snake with a hood', ultimately from Latin 'colubra' (snake).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.