red rat snake
- noun
- /rɛd ræt sneɪk/
- US
:
serpiente rata roja
- Farmers appreciate the red rat snake because it helps control rodent populations.
Examples
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The red rat snake is often seen slithering through cornfields in the South.
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During our nature walk, we spotted a beautiful red rat snake basking in the sun.
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I spotted a red rat snake in my backyard.
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The red rat snake is often mistaken for a copperhead.
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During our nature walk, we spotted a beautiful red rat snake basking in the sun.
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Farmers appreciate the red rat snake because it helps control rodent populations.
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The red rat snake is often seen slithering through cornfields in the South.
Synonyms
427
1.0
A long animal without legs covered in scales that sometimes has poison
1
6.0
A gentle reddish-orange snake from the southeastern United States often found on farms and kept as a pet
1
5.3
A snake that is not poisonous and eats rats and mice
A large harmless snake from the southeastern United States often found on farms and kept as a pet
A large harmless North American snake that eats birds and eggs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'rat snake' denotes a type of snake associated with rats (i.e., a snake that preys on or is found near rats) and 'red' simply specifies its color. Color + animal compound patterns are cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows 'red', 'rat' and 'snake' can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Red rat snake is named for its simple parts: red (its colour), rat (what it often eats) and snake (the animal). So the name gives a clear picture of a large, harmless reddish snake that lives near farms and eats 'rats', which is why farmers welcome it.