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Definition of monocled cobra
monocled cobra
Plural:monocled cobras
monocled cobra Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A highly venomous elapid snake species native to South and Southeast Asia, characterized by a single, O-shaped mark on the back of its hood.
Example
"During the herpetology survey in Thailand, researchers carefully documented the habitat preferences of the monocled cobra."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for monocled cobraWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the closely related Indian cobra (spectacled cobra), but easily distinguished by the single O-shaped pattern on its hood rather than a double U-shape.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
So named for the distinctive single circular marking on the back of its hood, which resembles a monocle. 'Cobra' derives from the Portuguese 'cobra de capelo', meaning 'snake with a hood'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Monocled cobra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/monocled cobra