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Glite Dictionary
coachwhip snake

coachwhip snake

1 9.5
A long thin snake with a tail like a braided whip that moves quickly
  • noun
  • /ˈkoʊtʃwɪp sneɪk/
  • US
translation icon : serpiente látigo
  • Biologists observed a large coachwhip snake basking on a sunlit rock.

Examples

  • The coachwhip snake can move quickly across sandy desert terrain to escape predators.

  • The coachwhip snake is known for its speed.

  • Because its tail looks like a braided whip, the coachwhip snake can be easily recognized in the wild.

  • Look at that coachwhip snake!

  • The coachwhip snake quickly darted across the road, blending in with the dry grass.

  • While hiking in the desert, we spotted a coachwhip snake slithering between the rocks.

  • The coachwhip snake is known for its speed and agility, making it a skilled hunter.

Synonyms

coachwhip
vscoachwhip snake
  • US
1 9.9

A long thin snake with a braided tail that lives in the southern United States and Mexico

emphasizes quick movement rather than notable body length
Masticophis flagellum
vscoachwhip snake
  • Specialized
9.9

A slender fast snake with a long tail like a braided whip

is the common descriptive name used instead of the scientific term

Surface Forms

coachwhip snake singular
coachwhip snakes plural

Morphology

coachwhip + snake

The phrase names a type of reptile by combining 'coachwhip' (a specific whip‑like snake) with the general category 'snake', so its meaning is directly the snake that is a coachwhip. This is a straightforward noun+noun species label following common compounding patterns, making it readily inferable for learners who know both constituents.

Etymology

Coachwhip snake gets its name from its tail, which looks like a long braided whip that old carriage drivers used. Because of that whip-like tail and the snake's quick movement, the name stuck and now refers to this fast-moving snake.