water adder

English

Alternative forms

• water-adder, wateradder

Etymology

From Middle English water addre, watyradyr, watir edyr, alteration (see adder) of water neddyr, watyrnedyre, from Old English wæternædre, wæternǣdre, equivalent to water +‎ adder. Cognate with Dutch wateradder (“wateradder”), German Wassernatter (“watersnake”).

Noun

water adder (plural water adders)

1. Any of several aquatic snakes (none of which are true adders) including, among others:
   1. The non-venomous European ringed snake or water snake, Natrix natrix.
   2. The venomous American cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus.
   3. The non-venomous American northern water snake,Nerodia sipedon
   4. The venomous South Asian crab-eating water snake, Fordonia leucobalia

Hypernyms

• watersnake