noun
or skaap·ste·ker ˈskäpˌstikə(r), -tēk-
( -s )
Etymology: Afrikaans skaapsteker, from skaap sheep (from Dutch schaap, from Middle Dutch schaep ) + steker one that stings or pricks, from Dutch, from steken to sting, prick + -er; akin to Old High German stehhan to sting, prick — more at sheep , stick
: any of several inoffensive and generally harmless African back-fanged snakes: as
a. : a snake ( Trimerorhinus rhombeatus ) irregularly marked in shades of brown — called also spotted schaapsteker
b. : a related snake ( T. tritaeniatus ) having two or three dark longitudinal bands on the grayish brown back — called also striped schaapsteker
c. : a sand snake of the genus Psammophis