a common, harmless rat snake (Elaphe vulpina), with a yellowish background color and dark blotches on the back
fox snake in American English
noun
a brown-blotched nonvenomous snake, Elaphe vulpina, of north-central U.S., that vibrates its tail and emits a pungent odor when disturbed
Word origin
[1855–60; appar. so called from its reddish color]This word is first recorded in the period 1855–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: boilerplate, keyword, lavabo, output, specialist