Pelias berus

Adder \Ad"der\, n. [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. n[ae]dre,
   adder, snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger.
   natter, Goth. nadrs, Icel. na[eth]r, masc., na[eth]ra, fem.:
   cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr, Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water
   snake. An adder is for a nadder.]
   1. A serpent. [Obs.] "The eddre seide to the woman."
      --Wyclif. Gen. iii. 4. )
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   2. (Zool.)
      (a) A small venomous serpent of the genus {Vipera}. The
          common European adder is the {Vipera berus} or {Pelias
          berus}. The puff adders of Africa are species of
          {Clotho}.
      (b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several
          harmless snakes, as the {milk adder}, {puffing adder},
          etc.
      (c) Same as {Sea Adder}.
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   Note: In the sculptures the appellation is given to several
         venomous serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper
         ({Cerastles}).
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viper \vi"per\ (v[imac]"p[~e]r), n. [F. vip[`e]re, L. vipera,
   probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring
   forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that
   brings forth living young. Cf. {Quick}, a., {Parent},
   {Viviparous}, {Wivern}, {Weever}.]
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   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous
      snakes belonging to {Vipera}, {Clotho}, {Daboia}, and
      other genera of the family {Viperidae}.
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            There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on
            his hand.                             --Acts xxviii.
                                                  3.
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   Note: Among the best-known species are the European adder
         ({Pelias berus}), the European asp ({Vipera aspis}),
         the African horned viper ({Vipera cerastes}), and the
         Indian viper ({Daboia Russellii}).
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   2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.
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            Who committed
            To such a viper his most sacred trust
            Of secrecy.                           --Milton.
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   3. Loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake.
      [PJC]

   {Horned viper}. (Zool.) See {Cerastes}.

   {Red viper} (Zool.), the copperhead.

   {Viper fish} (Zool.), a small, slender, phosphorescent
      deep-sea fish ({Chauliodus Sloanii}). It has long ventral
      and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp
      teeth.

   {Viper's bugloss} (Bot.), a rough-leaved biennial herb
      ({Echium vulgare}) having showy purplish blue flowers. It
      is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed
      in fields from New York to Virginia. Also called {blue
      weed}.

   {Viper's grass} (Bot.), a perennial composite herb
      ({Scorzonera Hispanica}) with narrow, entire leaves, and
      solitary heads of yellow flowers. The long, white,
      carrot-shaped roots are used for food in Spain and some
      other countries. Called also {viper grass}.
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