/serr"peuhnt/ , n.
1. a snake.
2. a wily, treacherous, or malicious person.
3. the Devil; Satan. Gen. 3:1-5.
4. a firework that burns with serpentine motion or flame.
5. an obsolete wooden wind instrument with a serpentine shape and a deep, coarse tone. Cf. ophicleide .
6. ( cap. ) Astron. the constellation Serpens.
[ 1250-1300; ME ( serpent-, s. of serpens; see SERPENS ]