from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Old World venomous
snakes belonging to {Vipera}, {Clotho}, {Daboia}, and
other genera of the family {Viperidae}.
[1913 Webster]
There came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on
his hand. --Acts xxviii.
3.
[1913 Webster]
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}).
[1913 Webster]
2. A dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.
[1913 Webster]
Who committed
To such a viper his most sacred trust
Of secrecy. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
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}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Viper
In Job 20:16, Isa. 30:6; 59:5, the Heb. word eph'eh is thus
rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species
of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of 'el ephah.
Tristram has identified it with the sand viper, a species of
small size common in sandy regions, and frequently found under
stones by the shores of the Dead Sea. It is rapid in its
movements, and highly poisonous. In the New Testament _echidne_
is used (Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33) for any poisonous snake. The
viper mentioned in Acts 28:3 was probably the vipera aspis, or
the Mediterranean viper. (See {ADDER}.)
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
22 Moby Thesaurus words for "viper":
animal, beast, cur, dog, hound, hyena, insect, mongrel, ophidian,
pig, pit viper, polecat, reptile, sea snake, serpent, skunk, snake,
swine, varmint, vermin, whelp, worm