Definition of viper

Email this page to a friend

< VIP

viperfish >

vi·per    (vpr) KEY 

NOUN:

1. Any of several venomous Old World snakes of the family Viperidae, having a single pair of long, hollow fangs and a thick, heavy body. Also called adder².
2. A pit viper.
3. A venomous or supposedly venomous snake.
4. A person regarded as malicious or treacherous.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English vipere, from Old French, from Latin vpera, snake, contraction of *vvipera : vvus, alive; see g^wei- in Indo-European roots + parere, to give birth; see per-¹ in Indo-European roots