1 schaapsteker | Definition of schaapsteker
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

schaapsteker

noun
schaap·​ste·​ker
variants: or skaapsteker \ ˈskäpËŒstikÉ™(r) , -​tÄ“k-​ \
plural -s

Definition of schaapsteker

: any of several inoffensive and generally harmless African back-fanged snakes: such as
a : a snake (Trimerorhinus rhombeatus) irregularly marked in shades of brown

— called also spotted schaapsteker

b : a related snake (T. tritaeniatus) having two or three dark longitudinal bands on the grayish brown back

— called also striped schaapsteker

c : a sand snake of the genus Psammophis

History and Etymology for schaapsteker

Afrikaans skaapsteker, from skaap sheep (from Dutch schaap, from Middle Dutch schaep) + steker one that stings or pricks, from Dutch, from steken to sting, prick + -er; akin to Old High German stehhan to sting, prick

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!