cerastes

ce·ras·tes  (s-rstz)

n. pl. cerastes

Any of several venomous snakes of the genus Cerastes, such as the horned viper, having hornlike projections over each eye.

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[Middle English, from Latin cerasts, from Greek kerasts, horned serpent, from keras, horn; see ker-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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cerastes [səˈræstiːz]

n pl -tes

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any venomous snake of the genus Cerastes, esp the horned viper

[from Latin: horned serpent, from Greek kerastēs horned, from keras horn]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

cerastes - highly venomous viper of northern Africa and southwestern Asia having a horny spine above each eye Cerastes cornutus, horned asp, horned viper, sand viper viper - venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw Aspis, genus Aspis, genus Cerastes - horned vipers