Definition

Noun: 1. A common name for a dragonfly: "snake feeder" is an informal, regional name for a dragonfly, a type of insect characterized by a long, slender body, two pairs of large, transparent, often iridescent wings, and large compound eyes. The name likely originates from the folk belief that dragonflies follow snakes to feed on them or are somehow associated with them.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We saw a beautiful blue snake feeder hovering over the pond. (We saw a beautiful blue dragonfly hovering over the pond.)
  • My grandfather always called dragonflies "snake feeders". (My grandfather always called dragonflies "snake feeders".)
  • Look at that snake feeder's wings shimmer in the sunlight. (Look at that dragonfly's wings shimmer in the sunlight.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "snake feeder" is considered a colloquialism or folk name. It is not a scientific term and is more common in certain regional dialects, particularly in parts of the United States.
• It is an example of how common names for animals can be based on local folklore or observation rather than scientific classification.

Variants and Related Words

• Dragonfly (n): The standard common name for insects of the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera. This is the preferred and more widely understood term.
• Darning needle (n): Another regional folk name for a dragonfly.
• Mosquito hawk (n): Another folk name highlighting the insect's role as a predator of mosquitoes.

Synonyms

• Dragonfly: The primary and standard synonym.
• Odonate: A more technical term referring to any member of the order Odonata, which includes dragonflies and damselflies.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "snake feeder" refers exclusively to the insect. It does not describe a person or a device that feeds snakes. The "feeder" part of the name is part of the compound folk term for the insect itself.

Noun

1. slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.