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horned asp

horned asp

9.9
A very poisonous snake with a small horn above each eye from northern Africa and southwestern Asia
  • noun
translation icon : aspide cornudo
  • The horned asp is well known for the prominent horns above its eyes.

Examples

  • Explorers in the Sahara are often warned about the horned asp and its potent venom.

  • Have you ever seen a horned asp in the wild?

  • A zoologist carefully studied the coloration patterns of the horned asp.

  • The horned asp is a dangerous snake.

  • Explorers in the Sahara are often warned about the horned asp and its potent venom.

  • A zoologist carefully studied the coloration patterns of the horned asp.

  • The horned asp is well known for the prominent horns above its eyes.

Synonyms

horned viper
vshorned asp
1 9.9

A poisonous snake from northern Africa and southwest Asia with a horn above each eye

is an alternative common name for the same species
Cerastes cornutus
vshorned asp
  • Specialized
9.9

A very venomous desert snake in North Africa and Southwest Asia with a horn above each eye

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific label
sand viper
vshorned asp
9.9

A highly venomous viper from northern Africa and southwestern Asia with a small horn above each eye

focuses on the distinctive eye horn rather than habitat
cerastes
vshorned asp
  • Specialized
9.9

A desert snake with a horn above each eye that has dangerous venom

refers to one specific species with that distinctive horn

Surface Forms

horned asp singular
horned asps plural

Morphology

horned + asp

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'horned' (having horns or horn-like projections) combined with 'asp' (a venomous snake) yields the meaning 'a snake with horn-like structures.' This descriptive, literal combination follows common compounding patterns and would be predictable to a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The noun horned asp is a simple description: horned points to the hard little 'horns' above its eyes and asp is an old word for a venomous snake. So, the name means a venomous viper with small horn-like scales above its eyes.