garter snake

garter snake
    n 1: any of numerous nonvenomous longitudinally-striped
         viviparous North American and Central American snakes [syn:
         {garter snake}, {grass snake}]
    

Garter \Gar"ter\, n. [OE. gartier, F. jarreti[`e]re, fr. OF.
   garet bend of the knee, F. jarret; akin to Sp. garra claw,
   Prov. garra leg. See {Garrote}.]
   1. A band used to prevent a stocking from slipping down on
      the leg.
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   2. The distinguishing badge of the highest order of
      knighthood in Great Britain, called the Order of the
      Garter, instituted by Edward III.; also, the Order itself.
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   3. (Her.) Same as {Bendlet}.
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   {Garter fish} (Zool.), a fish of the genus {Lepidopus},
      having a long, flat body, like the blade of a sword; the
      scabbard fish.

   {Garter king-at-arms}, the chief of the official heralds of
      England, king-at-arms to the Order of the Garter; -- often
      abbreviated to {Garter}.

   {Garter snake} (Zool.), one of several harmless American
      snakes of the genus {Eut[ae]nia}, of several species (esp.
      {E. saurita} and {E. sirtalis}); one of the striped
      snakes; -- so called from its conspicuous stripes of
      color.
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Snake \Snake\, n. [AS. snaca; akin to LG. snake, schnake, Icel.
   sn[=a]kr, sn?kr, Dan. snog, Sw. snok; of uncertain origin.]
   (Zool.)
   Any species of the order Ophidia; an ophidian; a serpent,
   whether harmless or venomous. See {Ophidia}, and {Serpent}.
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   Note: Snakes are abundant in all warm countries, and much the
         larger number are harmless to man.
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   {Blind snake}, {Garter snake}, {Green snake}, {King snake},
   {Milk snake}, {Rock snake}, {Water snake}, etc. See under
      {Blind}, {Garter}, etc.

   {Fetich snake} (Zool.), a large African snake ({Python
      Sebae}) used by the natives as a fetich.

   {Ringed snake} (Zool.), a common European columbrine snake
      ({Tropidonotus natrix}).

   {Snake eater}. (Zool.)
   (a) The markhoor.
   (b) The secretary bird.

   {Snake fence}, a worm fence (which see). [U.S.]

   {Snake fly} (Zool.), any one of several species of
      neuropterous insects of the genus {Rhaphidia}; -- so
      called because of their large head and elongated neck and
      prothorax.

   {Snake gourd} (Bot.), a cucurbitaceous plant ({Trichosanthes
      anguina}) having the fruit shorter and less snakelike than
      that of the serpent cucumber.

   {Snake killer}. (Zool.)
   (a) The secretary bird.
   (b) The chaparral cock.

   {Snake moss} (Bot.), the common club moss ({Lycopodium
      clavatum}). See {Lycopodium}.

   {Snake nut} (Bot.), the fruit of a sapindaceous tree
      ({Ophiocaryon paradoxum}) of Guiana, the embryo of which
      resembles a snake coiled up.

   {Tree snake} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
      colubrine snakes which habitually live in trees,
      especially those of the genus {Dendrophis} and allied
      genera.
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