a venomous snake, Agkistrodon (Ancistrodon) piscivorus, of swamps in southeastern U.S., that grows to about 4 ft. (1.2 m)
Also called: water moccasin
Word origin
[1825–35, Amer.; cotton + mouth, so called from the whiteness of its lips and mouth]This word is first recorded in the period 1825–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: archaic, cliché, electrolyte, panda, self-help
Examples of 'cottonmouth' in a sentence
cottonmouth
A deadly cottonmouth snake opens its jaws ready to unleash its venom.
The Sun (2012)
The brothers search for mayhaw berries in swamps infested with poisonous cottonmouth snakes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The cottonmouth can be confused with the water snake.