Meanings
plural death adders
- Any snake of the genus Acanthophis, a group of highly venomous elapids found in Australia and New Guinea.
- A copperhead, a venomous pit viper species Agkistrodon contortrix, found in North America.
- An eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platirhinos, a non-venomous colubrid species found in North America.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounvenomous Australian snake resembling an adder
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Sometimes suggested to derive from deaf adder, a colonial-era name for the snakes which referenced their tendency to remain in place (to ambush prey) rather than flee upon hearing human activity, but probably a simple reference to their venomousness.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese 死亡蛇屬 /死亡蛇属
- 死亡蛇屬 /死亡蛇属Acanthophis
Dutch doodsadders
- doodsaddersAcanthophis
French faiseur de mort
- faiseur de mortAcanthophis
German Todesottern
- TodesotternAcanthophis
Hungarian halálkígyó
- halálkígyóAcanthophis
Lithuanian mirtinosios gyvatės
- mirtinosios gyvatėsAcanthophis
Norwegian dødsorm
- dødsormAcanthophis
Polish zdradnica
- zdradnicaAcanthophis
Russian смерте́льная змея́
- смерте́льная змея́ (smertélʹnaja zmejá)Acanthophis
Spanish víbora de la muerte
- víbora de la muerteAcanthophis
Cite this entry
death adder. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20adder
“death adder.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20adder. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “death adder,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/death%20adder.
Source: death adder on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.