n. 1 any venomous snake of the family Viperidae, esp. the common viper (see ADDER). 2 a malignant or treacherous person. Phrases and idioms viper in one's bosom a person who betrays those who have helped him or her. viper's bugloss a stiff bristly blue-flowered plant, Echium vulgare. viper's grass scorzonera. Derivatives viperine adj. viperish adj. viper-like adj. viperous adj. Etymology: F vip{egrave}re or L vipera f. vivus alive + parere bring forth ...
Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference
noun Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Latin ~a Date: 15th century 1. a. a common Eurasian venomous snake (Vipera berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and is usually not fatal to humans; broadly any of a family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes that includes Old World snakes (subfamily Viperinae) and the pit ~s b. a venomous or reputedly venomous snake 2. a vicious or treacherous person ...
- early 15c., from M.Fr. vipere, from L. vipera "viper, snake, serpent," from vivus "alive, living" + parere "bring forth, bear." It was formerly believed (mistakenly) that the viper does not lay eggs. Applied to persons of spiteful character since at least 1591. ...