English edit

 
A horned rattlesnake

Etymology edit

From side +‎ winder (one who winds or wends, traveller), from the sideways, looping manner in which they move.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

sidewinder (plural sidewinders)

  1. A North American rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, that inhabits lowland deserts.
  2. (slang) A person who is untrustworthy and dangerous.
  3. (slang, dated) A heavy swinging blow from the side which disables an adversary.
  4. (baseball, colloquial) A pitcher who throws sidearm.
  5. A type of middle-distance deep-sea trawler widely used during the 1960s and 1970s.

Translations edit

Further reading edit