hognose snake

hognose snake [hawg-nohz, hog-] Word Origin noun

1. any harmless North American snake of the genus Heterodon, the several species having an upturned snout and noted for flattening the head or playing dead when disturbed.

Origin of hognose snake An Americanism dating back to 1730–40; hog + nose British Dictionary definitions for hognose snake hognose snake noun

1. any North American nonvenomous colubrid snake of the genus Heterodon, having a trowel-shaped snout and inflating the body when alarmedAlso called: puff adder