serpent \ser"pent\, n. f., fr. l. serpens, -entis sc. bestia,
   fr. serpens, p. pr. of serpere to creep; akin to gr. ???,
   skr. sarp, and perhaps to l. repere, e. reptile. cf.
   herpes.
   1. zool. any reptile of the order ophidia; a snake,
      especially a large snake. see illust. under ophidia.
      1913 webster

   note: the serpents are mostly long and slender, and move
         partly by bending the body into undulations or folds
         and pressing them against objects, and partly by using
         the free edges of their ventral scales to cling to
         rough surfaces. many species glide swiftly over the
         ground, some burrow in the earth, others live in trees.
         a few are entirely aquatic, and swim rapidly. see
         ophidia, and fang.
         1913 webster

   2. fig.: a subtle, treacherous, malicious person.
      1913 webster

   3. a species of firework having a serpentine motion as it
      passess through the air or along the ground.
      1913 webster

   4. astron. the constellation serpens.
      1913 webster

   5. mus. a bass wind instrument, of a loud and coarse tone,
      formerly much used in military bands, and sometimes
      introduced into the orchestra; -- so called from its form.
      1913 webster

   pharaoh's serpent chem., mercuric sulphocyanate, a
      combustible white substance which in burning gives off a
      poisonous vapor and leaves a peculiar brown voluminous
      residue which is expelled in a serpentine from. it is
      employed as a scientific toy.

   serpent cucumber bot., the long, slender, serpentine
      fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant trichosanthes
      colubrina; also, the plant itself.

   serpent eage zool., any one of several species of
      raptorial birds of the genera circaetus and spilornis,
      which prey on serpents. they inhabit africa, southern
      europe, and india. the european serpent eagle is
      circaetus gallicus.

   serpent eater. zool.
      a the secretary bird.
      b an asiatic antelope; the markhoor.

   serpent fish zool., a fish cepola rubescens with a
      long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running
      lengthwise.

   serpent star zool., an ophiuran; a brittle star.

   serpent's tongue paleon., the fossil tooth of a shark; --
      so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root.
      

   serpent withe bot., a west indian climbing plant
      aristolochia odoratissima.

   tree serpent zool., any species of african serpents
      belonging to the family dendrophidae.
      1913 webster
see also:
herpes ophidia fang pharaoh's serpent serpent cucumber trichosanthes colubrina 
serpent eage circaetus spilornis circaetus gallicus serpent eater 
serpent fish cepola rubescens serpent star serpent's tongue serpent withe 
aristolochia odoratissima tree serpent dendrophidae 

ribbon \rib"bon\, n. oe. riban, of. riban, f. ruban, probably
   of german origin; cf. d. ringband collar, necklace, e. ring
   circle, and band. written also riband, ribband.
   1. a fillet or narrow woven fabric, commonly of silk, used
      for trimming some part of a woman's attire, for badges,
      and other decorative purposes.
      1913 webster

   2. a narrow strip or shred; as, a steel or magnesium ribbon;
      sails torn to ribbons.
      1913 webster

   3. shipbuilding same as rib-band.
      1913 webster

   4. pl. driving reins. cant --london athenaeum.
      1913 webster

   5. her. a bearing similar to the bend, but only one eighth
      as wide.
      1913 webster

   6. spinning a silver.
      1913 webster

   note: the blue ribbon, and the red ribbon, are phrases often
         used to designate the british orders of the garter and
         of the bath, respectively, the badges of which are
         suspended by ribbons of these colors. see blue
         ribbon, under blue.
         1913 webster

   ribbon fish. zool.
      a any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped marine fish
          of the family trachypteridae, especially the species
          of the genus trachypterus, and the oarfish
          regelecus banksii of the north atlantic, which is
          sometimes over twenty feet long.
      b the hairtail, or bladefish.
      c a small compressed marine fish of the genus cepola,
          having a long, slender, tapering tail. the european
          species cepola rubescens is light red throughout.
          called also band fish.

   ribbon grass bot., a variety of reed canary grass having
      the leaves stripped with green and white; -- called also
      lady's garters. see reed grass, under reed.

   ribbon seal zool., a north pacific seal histriophoca
      fasciata. the adult male is dark brown, conspicuously
      banded and striped with yellowish white.

   ribbon snake zool., a common north american snake
      eutainia saurita. it is conspicuously striped with
      bright yellow and dark brown.

   ribbon society, a society in ireland, founded in the early
      part of the 19th century in antagonism to the orangemen.
      it afterwards became an organization of tennant farmers
      banded together to prevent eviction by landlords. it took
      its name from the green ribbon worn by members as a badge.
      

   ribborn worm. zool.
      a a tapeworm.
      b a nemertean.
          1913 webster
see also:
riband ribband rib-band blue ribbon blue ribbon fish 
trachypteridae trachypterus regelecus banksii cepola cepola rubescens 
band fish ribbon grass lady's garters reed grass reed 
ribbon seal histriophoca fasciata ribbon snake eutainia saurita ribbon society 
ribborn worm 

fireflame \fire"flame`\, n. zool.
   the european band fish cepola rubescens.
   1913 webster
see also:
cepola rubescens