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Definition of mud snake
mud snake
Plural:mud snakes
mud snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
American A large, non-venomous, semi-aquatic snake native to the swamps and wetlands of the southeastern United States, characterized by a glossy black back and a bright red and black checkered belly.
Example
"While surveying the Louisiana wetlands, the biologist was thrilled to document a mud snake resting near the water's edge."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often associated with the folklore of the mythical 'hoop snake' or 'horn snake' because of its habit of pressing its spine-tipped tail against captors, though it is completely harmless.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A straightforward compound of 'mud' and 'snake', directly referencing its preferred habitat in muddy, swampy aquatic environments.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mud snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mud snake