cottonmouth
|cot-ton-mouth|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑːtənˌmaʊθ/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɒtənˌmaʊθ/
venomous snake; dry mouth
Etymology
Etymology Information
'cottonmouth' originates from English, specifically the words 'cotton' and 'mouth', where 'cotton' refers to the white lining of the snake's mouth.
Historical Evolution
'cottonmouth' changed from the English words 'cotton' and 'mouth' and eventually became the modern English word 'cottonmouth'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the snake's white mouth lining, but over time it also came to describe the dry mouth condition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a venomous snake, also known as the water moccasin, found in the southeastern United States.
The cottonmouth is often found near water bodies.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42