serpent
/ˈsɜːpənt/noun
1
- chiefly poetic/literary a large snake〈主诗/文〉巨蛇。
1.1
the Serpent
a biblical name for Satan (see Gen.3, Rev.20)〈圣经〉撒旦（见《创世纪》3, 《启示录》20）。
1.2
- a dragon or other mythical snake-like reptile龙; （神话中）似蛇的爬行动物。
1.3
- figurative a sly or treacherous person, especially one who exploits a position of trust in order to betray it〈喻〉奸诈狡猾的人。
2
- historical a bass wind instrument made of leather-covered wood in three U-shaped turns, with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and few keys. It was played in military and church bands from the 17th to 19th centuries.〈史〉蛇形管, 蛇形号。
词源
Middle English: via Old French from Latin serpent- 'creeping', from the verb serpere.