ETYM Latin aspis, from Greek aspis: cf. Old Fren. aspe, French aspic.
1. Cobra used by the Pharaohs as a symbol of their power over life and death; SYN. Egyptian cobra, Naja haje.r /> 2. Of southern Europe; similar to but smaller than the adder; SYN. asp viper, Vipera aspis.
Any of several venomous snakes, including Vipera aspis of S Europe, allied to the adder, and the Egyptian cobra Naja haje, reputed to have been used by the Egyptian queen Cleopatra for her suicide.

ETYM French vipère, Latin vipera, probably contr. from vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that brings forth living young. Related to Quick, Parent, Viviparous, Wivern, Weever.
Any front-fanged venomous snake of the family Viperidae. Vipers range in size from 30 cm/1 ft to 3 m/10 ft, and often have diamond or jagged markings. Most give birth to live young.
There are 150 species of viper. The true vipers, subfamily Viperinae, abundant in Africa and SW Asia, include the adder Vipera berus, the African puff adder Bitis arietans, and the horned viper of North Africa Cerastes cornutus. The second subfamily Crotalinae includes the mostly New World pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes and copperheads of the Americas, which have a heat-sensitive pit between each eye and nostril.
Venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw.

Any of various mostly harmless snakes that live in or near water.