rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
| \ ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk
\
\
Definition of rattlesnake
: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken
Illustration of rattlesnake
Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The highway is adorned with the occasional flattened rattlesnake and signs warning to watch for big horn sheep crossing the road. — Thomas Peele, The Mercury News, "Gilroy gunman holed up in isolated Nevada town where it’s easy to be anonymous," 30 July 2019 Police said Monday that multiple gullies, shale slopes, low shade, direct sun and rattlesnakes presented challenges in the search at Grandview Campground, which is 8,600 feet in elevation. — Alexa Díaz, latimes.com, "Huntington Beach woman missing in Inyo County as search enters fourth day," 15 July 2019 Customers can pick from a range of chef specialties, including the rattlesnake and rabbit brat; the Southwestern bison brat, and the rosemary chicken brat or dream up their own creations from a selection of sausages and toppings. — Ava Garcia, azcentral, "Brat Haus in uptown Phoenix is a new neighborhood spot for games, beer and giant pretzels," 12 July 2019 Copperheads, timber rattlesnakes and eastern massasauga rattlesnakes are the three species of venomous snakes in Pennsylvania, according to the Fish and Boat Commission. — Jordan Culver, USA TODAY, "Pennsylvania woman bitten by venomous copperhead snake while doing laundry," 19 June 2019 Sure enough, a pygmy rattlesnake, dark, reddish-brown with pink spots, lay coiled up under the ledge. — Patty Hodapp, Outside Online, "The Man Who Survived a Rattler, Bear, and Shark Attack," 10 July 2018 Alive and kicking What’s even more remarkable is how often the rattlesnakes go home hungry. — Jason Bittel, National Geographic, "‘Ninja' rat kicks snake in midair in amazing slo-mo video," 5 Apr. 2019 The Diamond Island House was moved across the lake to be part of the New Hotel Weirs in the late 1800s; there has not been a rattlesnake found on Rattlesnake Island since 1946. — Allen Lessels, BostonGlobe.com, "Seeing Lake Winnipesaukee from the M/S Mount Washington is a N.H. must-do," 13 June 2019 One arrest occurred in the emergency room at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, where a Mexican man was being treated for a rattlesnake bite. — Sheri Fink, New York Times, "Migrants in Custody at Hospitals Are Treated Like Felons, Doctors Say," 10 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rattlesnake.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for rattlesnake
rattlesnake
noun
English Language Learners Definition of rattlesnake
: a poisonous American snake with a group of hard, loose pieces (called scales) at the end of its tail that it shakes to make a noise
See the full definition for rattlesnake in the English Language Learners Dictionary
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
| \ ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk
\
\
Kids Definition of rattlesnake
: a poisonous American snake with a rattle at the end of its tail
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
| \ ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk
\
\
Medical Definition of rattlesnake
: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus — see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake
Keep scrolling for more