ˈkaskəˌbel noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, literally, small spherical bell like a sleigh bell, from Old Provençal cascavel, from Medieval Latin cascabellus, diminutive of cascabus cooking pot, alteration of Latin caccabus, from Greek kakkabos, kakkabē, of Semitic origin; akin to Assyrian kukubu vessel
1. : a knoblike projection, sometimes in the form of a loop, behind the breech of a muzzle-loading cannon ; also : all the rear part of the cannon behind the base ring — see cannon illustration
2. : a vicious So. and Central American rattlesnake ( Crotalus durissus terrificus ) that has a powerful neurotoxic venom and is the only rattlesnake of eastern So. America
3. : a small hollow perforated spherical bell enclosing a loose pellet which causes it to jingle when moved — called also jingle bell