viper

viper
viper vi"per (v[imac]"p[~e]r), n. [F. vip[`e]re, L. vipera, probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Cf. {Quick}, a., {Parent}, {Viviparous}, {Wivern}, {Weever}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous snakes belonging to {Vipera}, {Clotho}, {Daboia}, and other genera of the family {Viperid[ae]}. [1913 Webster]

There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. --Acts xxviii. 3. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the best-known species are the European adder ({Pelias berus}), the European asp ({Vipera aspis}), the African horned viper ({Vipera cerastes}), and the Indian viper ({Daboia Russellii}). [1913 Webster]

2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person. [1913 Webster]

Who committed To such a viper his most sacred trust Of secrecy. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake. [PJC]

{Horned viper}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Cerastes}.

{Red viper} (Zo["o]l.), the copperhead.

{Viper fish} (Zo["o]l.), a small, slender, phosphorescent deep-sea fish ({Chauliodus Sloanii}). It has long ventral and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp teeth.

{Viper's bugloss} (Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb ({Echium vulgare}) having showy purplish blue flowers. It is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called {blue weed}.

{Viper's grass} (Bot.), a perennial composite herb ({Scorzonera Hispanica}) with narrow, entire leaves, and solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white, carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some other countries. Called also {viper grass}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Viper — and similar may refer to:Animals*Viper, any member of the family Viperidae, a group of snakes found throughout Africa, Eurasia and the Americas. *Viper, Agkistrodon piscivorus , a.k.a. the cottonmouth, a venomous snake found in North America.… …   Wikipedia

  • Viper — puede referirse a: Viper (banda musical), una banda brasileña de música heavy. Dodge Viper, un modelo de automóvil. Viper (cohete), un cohete sonda estadounidense. AH 1Z Viper, un helicóptero de ataque. F 16 Fighting Falcon, avión de combate… …   Wikipedia Español

  • viper — (n.) 1520s, from M.Fr. vipere, from L. vipera viper, snake, serpent, from vivus alive, living (see VITAL (Cf. vital)) + parere bring forth, bear (see PARE (Cf. pare)). It formerly was believed (mistakenly) that the viper does not lay eggs.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • VIPeR — is a military robot developed by the Israeli company Elbit Systems and intended for use in warfare. It was unveiled in March, 2007.FeaturesFor mobility, the VIPeR uses a pair of combined wheel/track systems (called the Galileo Wheel system, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Viper — Sf (eine Giftschlange) erw. fach. (13. Jh.), mhd. viper, vipere Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus [p]l. vīpera, das wohl mit Silbenschichtung auf l. * vīvi pera lebendgebärend zurückgeht.    Ebenso ne. viper, nfrz. vipère. lateinisch l …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Viper M1 — is an h game in the Hyper Viper Animation series for the PC released in 1998. It consists of three separate entries. Games My Mothers In My Mothers, the player assumes the role of Mika, a young Japanese student who fights the forces of evil with… …   Wikipedia

  • Viper — es una banda de heavy metal proveniente de Brasil. Se formó en 1985 aunque no fue hasta 1987 cuando publican su primer álbum titulado Soldiers of Sunrise. Todavía sigue activa. Su ex vocalista André Matos es un claro ejemplo de precocidad, ya que …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Viper — »Giftschlange, Otter«: Das Wort wurde bereits in mhd. Zeit (mhd. viper‹e›, vipper) aus gleichbedeutend lat. vipera entlehnt. Dies geht wohl auf *vivipera (aus lat. vivus »lebendig« und pera zu parere »gebären«) zurück und bedeutet demnach… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • viper — [vī′pər] n. [OFr < L vipera, contr. < ? * vivipara, producing live young < vivus, living (see BIO ) + parere, to bear: see PAROUS: from the notion that the viper does not lay eggs] 1. any of a widespread family (Viperidae) of venomous… …   English World dictionary

  • Viper — (Vipĕra), 1) so viel als Schlange, bes. die kleineren Arten; 2) so v.w. Natter; 3) Gattung aus der Familie der Vipern, s.d. a); 4) vorzüglich Vipera berus, mit seinen Abarten; 5) Gelbe V., so v.w. Gelber Eckenkopf …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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