tiger rattlesnake
- noun
- /ˈtaɪɡər ˈrætlˌseɪk/
- US
:
serpiente de cascabel tigre
- The tiger rattlesnake is known for its distinctive cross-banded back and small rattle.
Examples
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Hikers in southern Arizona should watch for tiger rattlesnakes in rocky canyons.
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Researchers tagged a tiger rattlesnake to study its movements in the desert.
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The tiger rattlesnake is known for its distinctive markings.
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Have you ever seen a tiger rattlesnake in the wild?
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Hikers in southern Arizona should watch for tiger rattlesnakes in rocky canyons.
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Researchers tagged a tiger rattlesnake to study its movements in the desert.
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The tiger rattlesnake is known for its distinctive cross-banded back and small rattle.
Synonyms
A rattlesnake with tiger-like bands found in dry hills and canyons of southern Arizona and Mexico
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase names a kind of rattlesnake characterized by tiger-like markings, so a learner who knows 'tiger' and 'rattlesnake' can infer it is a rattlesnake with stripey or distinctive crossbands. This noun–noun compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern for animal names, making the meaning directly compositional and easily predictable.
Etymology
Tiger rattlesnake is named for how it looks: the word tiger points to dark, uneven bands on its back that remind people of a tiger's stripes, and rattlesnake points to the small 'rattle' on its tail that warns when it feels threatened. So the name tells you it is a rattlesnake with tiger-like markings.
