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Definition of spitting cobra
spitting cobra
Plural:spitting cobras
spitting cobra Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of several venomous elapid snakes, primarily native to Africa and Asia, capable of projecting venom from their fangs over a distance to blind or deter predators.
Example
"The herpetologist always wore a protective face shield while handling the spitting cobra to prevent venom from reaching his eyes."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its unique defensive adaptation of projecting or 'spitting' venom through specialized forward-facing holes in its fangs. '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 Spitting cobra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/spitting cobra