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Definition of sharp-nosed pit viper
sharp-nosed pit viper
Plural:sharp-nosed pit vipers
sharp-nosed pit viper Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A highly venomous species of pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus) native to Southeast Asia, particularly southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam, characterized by a distinctively upturned, pointed snout and potent hemotoxic venom.
Example
"Due to its lethal venom, the sharp-nosed pit viper is known in local folklore as the 'hundred-pacer,' implying a victim can only walk one hundred steps before collapsing."
Word Origin & Etymology
The name is a literal description of the snake's distinctively pointed and upturned snout, combined with 'pit viper', which refers to the specialized heat-sensing pit organs located between its eyes and nostrils.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sharp-nosed pit viper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sharp-nosed pit viper