water moccasin

C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈwɔːtɚˌmɑːkəsɪn/ UK /ˈwɔːtəˌmɒkəsɪn/ See IPA manual

Meanings

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

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.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a venomous semiaquatic pit... cottonmouthcottonmouth moccasin

2 noun · informal: any of several... water snake

Word family

Forms water-moccasins

Derived forms water moccasins

Related forms pit vipercopperheadAgkistrodon piscivorusNerodia

Etymology

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.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style General Vocabulary

External links

# water moccasin

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈwɔːtɚˌmɑːkəsɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈwɔːtəˌmɒkəsɪn/

## Meanings
1. a venomous semiaquatic pit viper of the southeastern United States, also called the cottonmouth
2. informal: any of several harmless American water snakes that resemble the cottonmouth

## Examples
- The guide warned us not to approach a water moccasin resting near the creek.
- The snake in the pond was called a water moccasin, although it was a harmless water snake.

## Synonyms
- cottonmouth
- cottonmouth moccasin
- water snake

## Derived Forms
- water moccasins

## Related Forms
- pit viper
- copperhead
- Agkistrodon piscivorus
- Nerodia

## Etymology
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.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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