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Definition of milksnake

milksnake

/ˈmɪlkˌsneɪk/
milk · snake
Plural:milksnakes
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milksnake Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A nonvenomous kingsnake of the genus Lampropeltis native to the Americas, characterized by smooth, glossy scales with alternating bands of red, black, and yellow or white that often mimic venomous coral snakes.

Example

"The bright red, black, and yellow bands of the milksnake often cause hikers to mistake it for a venomous coral snake."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for milksnake

• Nearby Words

milkmaid
milkman
milkshake
milksnake
milkweed
milky
mill

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'milk' and 'snake', originating from the false rural folklore that these snakes enter barns at night to suck milk directly from cows' udders; in reality, they frequent barns to hunt rodents.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Milksnake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/milksnake
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