Ear snail, Edible snail, Pond snail, etc. See under Ear, Edible, etc.
-- Snail borer (Zoöl.), a boring univalve mollusk; a drill. -- Snail
clover (Bot.), a cloverlike plant (Medicago scuttellata, also, M.
Helix); -- so named from its pods, which resemble the shells of snails;
-- called also snail trefoil, snail medic, and beehive. -- Snail flower
(Bot.), a leguminous plant (Phaseolus Caracalla) having the keel of the
carolla spirally coiled like a snail shell. -- Snail shell (Zoöl.), the
shell of snail. -- Snail trefoil. (Bot.) See Snail clover, above.
Snail"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Sea snail (a).
<! p. 1361 !>
Snail"-like` (?), a. Like or suiting a snail; as, snail-like progress.
Snail"-like`, adv. In the manner of a snail; slowly.
Snail"-paced` (?), a. Slow-moving, like a snail.
Bid the snail-paced Ajax arm for shame.
Shak.
'Snails (?), interj. God's nails, or His nails, that is, the nails with
which the Savior was fastened to the cross; -- an ancient form of oath,
corresponding to 'Od's bodikins (dim. of body, i.e., God's dear body).
Beau. & Fl.
Snake (?), n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel. snkr,
sn&?;kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.) Any species
of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent, whether harmless or
venomous. See Ophidia, and Serpent.
Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the larger number
are harmless to man.
Blind snake, Garter snake, Green snake, King snake, Milk snake, Rock
snake, Water snake, etc. See under Blind, Garter, etc. -- Fetich snake
(Zoöl.), a large African snake (Python Sebæ) used by the natives as a
fetich. -- Ringed snake (Zoöl.), a common European columbrine snake
(Tropidonotus natrix). -- Snake eater. (Zoöl.) (a) The markhoor. (b)
The secretary bird. -- Snake fence, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.] --
Snake fly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of neuropterous insects
of the genus Rhaphidia; -- so called because of their large head and
elongated neck and prothorax. -- Snake gourd (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous
plant (Trichosanthes anguina) having the fruit shorter and less
snakelike than that of the serpent cucumber. -- Snake killer. (Zoöl.)
(a) The secretary bird. (b) The chaparral cock. -- Snake moss (Bot.),
the common club moss (Lycopodium clavatum). See Lycopodium. -- Snake
nut (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Ophiocaryon paradoxum) of
Guiana, the embryo of which resembles a snake coiled up. -- Tree snake
(Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of colubrine snakes which
habitually live in trees, especially those of the genus Dendrophis and
allied genera.
Snake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Snaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Snaking.] 1. To
drag or draw, as a snake from a hole; -- often with out. [Colloq. U.S.]
Bartlett.
2. (Naut.) To wind round spirally, as a large rope with a smaller, or
with cord, the small rope lying in the spaces between the strands of
the large one; to worm.
Snake, v. i. To crawl like a snake.
Snake"bird` (?), n. [So named from its snakelike neck.] (Zoöl.) 1. Any
one of four species of aquatic birds of the genus Anhinga or Plotus.
They are allied to the gannets and cormorants, but have very long,
slender, flexible necks, and sharp bills.
The American species (Anhinga, or Plotus, anhinga) inhabits the
Southern United States and tropical America; -- called also darter, and
water turkey. The Asiatic species (A. melanogaster) is native of
Southern Asia and the East Indies. Two other species inhabit Africa and
Australia respectively.