copperhead

plural copperheads

1. Any of certain of snakes having a copper-colored head in three families within suborder Serpentes.
   1. A venomous pit viper of species Agkistrodon contortrix, found in parts of North America.
   2. A water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
   3. A Chinese copperhead (Deinagkistrodon acutus), a venomous pit viper species found in Southeast Asia
   4. Any Australian copperhead (Austrelaps spp.), a venomous elapid found in southern Australia and Tasmania.
   5. A copperhead rat snake (Coelognathus radiatus, syn. Elaphe radiata), a non-venomous colubrid species found in southern Asia.
2. derogatorySomeone with ginger hair.

plural Copperheads

1. UShistoricalslangA northerner who sympathized with the South or wanted to end hostilities during the American Civil War.

   Synonyms: Peace Democrat

2. USderogatoryhistoricalAny member of the Democratic party.First known use chiefly 1860s