Viper vs. Rattlesnake: What's the Difference?

Any of various venomous snakes of the family Viperidae, having a thick heavy body and a single pair of long hollow fangs, especially the Eurasian and African species of the subfamily Viperinae, which lack the sensory pits of the pit vipers.

Any of various venomous pit vipers of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the Americas, having at the end of the tail a series of loosely attached, horny segments that can be vibrated to produce a rattling or buzzing sound.

Any of several harmless snakes sometimes believed to be venomous.

Any of various venomous American snakes, of genera Crotalus and Sistrurus, having a rattle at the end of its tail.

A person regarded as malicious or treacherous.

Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus; sometimes also called rattler. They have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake of the Northern United States (Crotalus horridus), and the diamondback rattlesnake (also called diamondback rattler, and diamondback) of the South and East (Crotalus adamanteus) and West (Crotalus atrox), are the best known. See Illust. of Fang.

A venomous snake in the family Viperidae.

Pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken

(informal) Any venomous snake.

(figurative) A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.

(slang) A person who smokes marijuana.

Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous snakes belonging to Vipera, Clotho, Daboia, and other genera of the family Viperidæ.

A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.

Loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake.

Venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw