water moccasin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a venomous semiaquatic pit viper of the southeastern United States, also called the cottonmouth

   The guide warned us not to approach a water moccasin resting near the creek.

2. 2
   noun

   informal: any of several harmless American water snakes that resemble the cottonmouth

   The snake in the pond was called a water moccasin, although it was a harmless water snake.

An American English compound of water + moccasin. Moccasin, borrowed from an Algonquian language for a soft leather shoe, also became a name for several North American snakes; water distinguishes the semiaquatic cottonmouth and similar water snakes.

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