Viper Means Born Alive
A viper is a venomous snake. Its Latin name describes an unusual method of reproduction.
A viper is a venomous snake of the family Viperidae, including the adder and the rattlesnake. The name records a biological fact: Latin *vipera* is thought to come from *vivus*, alive, plus *parere*, to bring forth — vipers give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, which was unusual enough among snakes to name them by. *Viper* is also an old term for a treacherous person, and *a nest of vipers* means a group of dangerous people.
- A venomous snake. *A pit viper.*
- Adder — the British viper. *The adder.*
- Viviparous — bearing live young. *Viviparous.*
- A treacherous person. *A viper.*
- Latin — *vipera*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | viper | A viper. |
| Plural | vipers | Vipers. |
| Family | Viperidae | Viperidae. |
| Related | viviparous | Viviparous. |
| Latin | vipera | A viper. |
- The adder is Britain's only viper.Species.
- Vipers bear live young.Biology.
- A nest of vipers.Figurative.
What makes a viper
- Hinged fangs that fold back when the mouth closes
- Triangular head, broader than the neck
- Most bear live young rather than laying eggs
- Pit vipers have heat-sensing pits between eye and nostril
- The adder is Britain's only native venomous snake
Latin *vipera*, a viper, probably a contraction of *vivipara*, from *vivus*, alive, and *parere*, to bring forth.
Why does viper mean born alive?
Because vipers bear live young rather than laying eggs, unusual enough among snakes to give the family its name.
What are the pits in a pit viper?
Heat-sensing organs between the eye and nostril that detect the infrared radiation of warm-blooded prey.