Ven"om*ous (?), a. [OE. venemous,
venimous, F. venimeux, L. venenosus, fr.
venenum poison. See Venom, and cf. Venenose.]
1. Full of venom; noxious to animal life; poisonous;
as, the bite of a serpent may be venomous.
2. (Zoöl.) Having a poison gland or
glands for the secretion of venom, as certain serpents and
insects.
3. Noxious; mischievous; malignant; spiteful; as, a
venomous progeny; a venomous writer.
Venomous snake (Zoöl.), any serpent
which has poison glands and fangs, whether dangerous to man or not. These
serpents constitute two tribes, the viperine serpents, or Solenoglypha, and
the cobralike serpents, or Proteroglypha. The former have perforated,
erectile fangs situated in the front part of the upper jaw, and are without
ordinary teeth behind the fangs; the latter have permanently erect and
grooved fangs, with ordinary maxillary teeth behind them.
-- Ven"om*ous*ly, adv. --
Ven"om*ous*ness, n.