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Definition of moila snake
moila snake
Plural:moila snakes
moila snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake (Malpolon moilensis) native to the deserts and dry regions of North Africa and the Middle East, often referred to as the 'false cobra' because of its defensive habit of flattening its neck to mimic a cobra's hood.
Example
"During the expedition in the Arabian Desert, the herpetologist documented a moila snake raising its head and flattening its neck to intimidate a perceived threat."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for moila snakeWord Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'Moila' (also spelled Al-Muwaylih), the type locality in northwestern Saudi Arabia where the species was collected, combined with the English word 'snake'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moila snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moila snake