I. ˈkōbrə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Portuguese cobra ( de capello ), literally, hooded snake, from Latin colubra, feminine of coluber snake — more at coluber
1. : any of several very venomous Asiatic and African elapid snakes of the genus Naja that, when excited, expand the skin of the neck into a broad hood by movement of the anterior ribs — see indian cobra , king cobra
2. : either of two African snakes that spit their venom from a distance:
a. : black-necked cobra
b. : ringhals
3. : mamba
II. noun
( -s )
Australia : shipworm