■ noun
1》 chiefly literary a large snake.
↘a dragon or other mythical snake-like reptile.
↘( the Serpent ) a biblical name for Satan (see Gen. 3, Rev. 20).
↘a sly or treacherous person.
2》 historical a bass wind instrument made of leather-covered wood in three U-shaped turns, with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and few keys.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. ~- , serpere 'to creep'.