habu
1
9.9
A venomous snake that lives on the Ryukyu Islands of Japan
- noun
- /ˈhæbu/
- Specialized
:
habu
- Many locals in Okinawa know to be cautious of the dangerous habu snake when walking through tall grass.
Examples
-
The habu is a venomous pit viper that can be found in various regions of Asia.
-
He was amazed at its vitality but also worried that a habu snake might be hiding in the tall grass.
Fiction book (1998) -
While hiking in the Ryukyu Islands, I spotted a habu sunbathing on a rock.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Habu comes from the local Ryukyu or Okinawan name ハブ, which island people used for this venomous pit viper, so English simply borrowed the island name for the snake. A helpful way to remember habu is to think of the islands naming the snake — like cobra, it is a local name that tells you where the snake comes from.