taipan
1 of 2noun (1)
tai·pan ˈtī-ˌpan 
ˈtī-ˈpän
ˈtī-ˈpän : a powerful businessman and especially formerly a foreigner living and operating in Hong Kong or China
taipan
2 of 2noun (2)
tai·pan ˈtī-ˌpan
: an exceedingly venomous elapid snake (Oxyuranus scutellatus) of northern Australia and New Guinea
also : a related snake (O. microlepidotus)
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Chinese (Guangdong) daaih-bāan, from daaih big + bāan class
Noun (2)
Wik Munkan (Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland) dhayban
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1834, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1933, in the meaning defined above
taipans
noun
as in cobras
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cobras
- kraits
- rattlesnakes
- pythons
- copperheads
- mambas
- anacondas
- bushmasters
- boas
- black racers
- pit vipers
- horned vipers
- sea serpents
- racers
- constrictors
- asps
- coral snakes
- adders
- sea snakes
- diamondback rattlesnakes
- worm snakes
- gopher snakes
- hognose snakes
- garter snakes
- blue racers
- puff adders
- bull snakes
- water snakes
- green snakes
- pine snakes
- indigo snakes
- rat snakes
- king cobras
- chicken snakes
- sidewinders
- vipers
- milk snakes
- blacksnakes
- king snakes
- moccasins
- fer-de-lance
- cottonmouth moccasins
- water moccasins
- serpents
- snakes