Adder \Add"er\, n. [See Add.]
One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding
numbers.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Adder \Ad"der\, n. [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. n[ae]dre,
adder, snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger.
natter, Goth. nadrs, Icel. na[eth]r, masc., na[eth]ra, fem.:
cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr, Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water
snake. An adder is for a nadder.]
1. A serpent. [Obs.]
``The eddre seide to the woman.''
--Wyclif. Gen. iii. 4. )
2. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The
common European adder is the Vipera (or Pelias)
berus. The puff adders of Africa are species of
Clotho. (b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several
harmless snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder,
etc. (c) Same as Sea Adder.
Note: In the sculptures the appellation is given to several
venomous serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper
(Cerastles).
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |