Definition

A type of venomous snake found in the eastern and central United States, known for its reddish-brown body and distinctive hourglass pattern.

Example

While hiking in the woods, I spotted a copperhead sunbathing on a rock.

Conversation

Did you hear about the copperhead snake spotted near the park?

Yeah, I read about that! They're pretty common around here.

I hope it's not too close to the playground where the kids are.

Same here! It's always good to keep an eye out for those.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Copperhead → The word is formed from "copper" (from Old English "coper", meaning a reddish-brown metal) and "head" (from Old English "heafod", meaning the upper part of the body or a leader). The term "copperhead" originally referred to a type of snake known for its copper-colored head, and it also historically referred to a faction of Northern Democrats during the American Civil War who opposed the war.

Memory Tip

Think of the reddish-brown metal 'copper' and the 'head' of a snake, which helps you remember that a 'copperhead' refers to a snake with a copper-colored head.

Visually Confused Words