whip snake
whip snake Lexical Profile
• noun
North American Any of various slender, fast-moving, mostly non-venomous snakes found across the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, characterized by a long, thin body.
"The hiker paused as a harmless striped whip snake quickly darted across the rocky desert trail."
Australian Any of several slender, fast-moving, and venomous front-fanged snakes native to Australia and New Guinea.
"Residents of the Australian outback are taught from a young age to avoid the potentially dangerous yellow-faced whip snake."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'whip snake' applies to unrelated species globally. In the Americas and Eurasia, it typically refers to harmless, fast-moving colubrids, while in Australia, it refers to highly venomous elapid snakes.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the snake's notably long, thin, and tapered body, which closely resembles the thong of a leather whip.