diamondback

[ dahy-muhnd-bak, dahy-uh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

bearing diamond-shaped marks, designs, or configurations on the back.

noun

diamondback

/ ˈdaɪəməndˌbæk /

noun

Also calleddiamondback terrapindiamondback turtle any edible North American terrapin of the genus Malaclemys, esp M. terrapin, occurring in brackish and tidal waters and having diamond-shaped markings on the shell: family Emydidae
a large North American rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus, having cream-and-grey diamond-shaped markings

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Word History and Origins

Origin of diamondback¹

First recorded in 1810–20; diamond + back ¹

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Example Sentences

This diamondback squid, suspended gracefully in the dark water off the coast of Anilao, Philippines, found itself illuminated by chance in a beam of light from diver and photographer Songda Cai.

From Popular-Science

It was a diamondback rattler, and lay coiled on the rug at my feet.

From Project Gutenberg

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