deaf adder

plural deaf adders · alternative deaf-adder

1. UKA slowworm.
2. AustraliaA death adder.

   The death, or deaf adder, is an ugly creature, and is considered highly dangerous.

   1833, William Henry Breton, Excursions in New South Wales, Western Australia, and Van Dieman's Land, During the Years 1830, 1831, 1832 and 1833, London: Richard Bentley, page 264

   5 more examples

   Our deaf adder resembles, in its short, puffy, repulsive appearance, the blow-adder of America.

   1828, Peter Miller Cunningham, Two Years in New South Wales, third edition, volume 1, London: Henry Colburn, page 319

   The Death Adder is extremely sluggish in its habits, and rarely moves out of the way of persons approaching it; I am therefore inclined to think, that the original popular name assigned to this reptile, must have been Deaf Adder, instead of the Death Adder.

   1845, Clement Hodgkinson, Australia, from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay, London: T. and W. Boone, page 212

   Another friend on a cruise, put his saddle down for a pillow at night as usual, and on lifting up the saddle-flaps the next morning, he observed a beastly deaf adder lying flat down.

   1846, Christopher Pemberton Hodgson, Reminiscences of Australia, with Hints on the Squatter's Life, London: W. N. Wright; Simpkin and Marshall, page 169

   Snakes of various sizes, from two to ten feet in length, including, perhaps, the venomous deaf adder

   1852, R. G. Jameson, Australia and Her Gold Regions, New York: Cornish, Lamport & Co., page 45

   The deaf adder is the most formidable “varmint” in Australia. There are two varieties; it is generally about two feet long. The bite is fatal. The deaf adder never moves unless it is touched, hence its name.

   1853, Ellen Clacy, A Lady’s Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia, in 1852–53, London: Hurst and Blackett, page 250