viper \vi"per\ vimac"p~er, n. f. vip`ere, l. vipera,
   probably contr. fr. vivipera; vivus alive + parere to bring
   forth, because it was believed to be the only serpent that
   brings forth living young. cf. quick, a., parent,
   viviparous, wivern, weever.
   1913 webster
   1. zool. any one of numerous species of old world venomous
      snakes belonging to vipera, clotho, daboia, and
      other genera of the family viperidae.
      1913 webster

            there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on
            his hand.                             --acts xxviii.
                                                  3.
      1913 webster

   note: among the best-known species are the european adder
         pelias berus, the european asp vipera aspis,
         the african horned viper vipera cerastes, and the
         indian viper daboia russellii.
         1913 webster

   2. a dangerous, treacherous, or malignant person.
      1913 webster

            who committed
            to such a viper his most sacred trust
            of secrecy.                           --milton.
      1913 webster

   3. loosely, any venomous or presumed venomous snake.
      pjc

   horned viper. zool. see cerastes.

   red viper zool., the copperhead.

   viper fish zool., a small, slender, phosphorescent
      deep-sea fish chauliodus sloanii. it has long ventral
      and dorsal fins, a large mouth, and very long, sharp
      teeth.

   viper's bugloss bot., a rough-leaved biennial herb
      echium vulgare having showy purplish blue flowers. it
      is sometimes cultivated, but has become a pestilent weed
      in fields from new york to virginia. also called blue
      weed.

   viper's grass bot., a perennial composite herb
      scorzonera hispanica with narrow, entire leaves, and
      solitary heads of yellow flowers. the long, white,
      carrot-shaped roots are used for food in spain and some
      other countries. called also viper grass.
      1913 webster
see also:
quick parent viviparous wivern weever vipera 
clotho daboia viperidae pelias berus vipera aspis 
vipera cerastes daboia russellii horned viper cerastes red viper 
viper fish chauliodus sloanii viper's bugloss echium vulgare blue weed 
viper's grass scorzonera hispanica viper grass 

scorzonera hispanica
     n : perennial south european herb having narrow entire leaves
         and solitary yellow flower heads and long black-skinned
         carrot-shaped edible roots syn: black salsify, viper's
         grass, scorzonera
see also:
black salsify viper's grass scorzonera