hognosen.
/ˈhɒɡnəʊz/, U.S. /ˈhɔɡˌnoʊz/, /ˈhɑɡˌnoʊz/ In full hognose snake. Any of several harmless American colubrid snakes of the genus Heterodon, which have an upturned snout. Cf. adder n.1 2e, puff adder n. 2.These snakes are noted for their behaviour when threatened, when they inflate themselves with air and hiss (giving rise to some of their local names), and may feign death.
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the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Ophidia (snakes) > types of snake > [noun] > family Colubridae > member of genus Heterodon (hog-nose)
hognose1737
hog-nosed snake?a1808
spreading adder1836
adder1842
spread head1844
puff adder1882
blowing adder1884
spread adder1902
1737 M. Catesby in Philos. Trans. 1735–6 (Royal Soc.) 39 257 Anguis capite Viperino: The Hog-Nose Snake.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 219 Bluish Green Snake with a stretched out triangular nose, or Hognose Snake, Coluber mycterizans.
1888 Pop. Sci. Monthly Sept. 660 The blow-snake of Illinois is variously known in other localities as hog-nose, flat-head, viper, and puff-adder.
1915 Copeia No. 17. 3 The favorite habitat of the hog-nose appears to be the sand dunes.
1979 Weekend Mag. (Toronto) 9 June 16/4 (caption) Despite its fang-like teeth, the hognose is not venomous, but has become increasingly rare.
2000 Seasons Autumn 9/1 Giant's Tomb Island is home to a number of species that are either threatened..or vulnerable (cerulean warbler, eastern hognose snake, and the five-lined skink).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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