Coluber
/ˈkɒl.jʊ.bər/noun
A taxonomic genus name historically applied to snakes, especially colubrid snakes.
Did you know?Roman naturalists used coluber as a general Latin word for a snake, while modern zoologists preserved it as a scientific genus name.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷel-
“To turn, revolve, or move around; this proposed root is often connected with the twisting motion associated with a snake.”
Proto-Italic
PIE
*kolubros
“A reconstructed Italic form meaning snake or serpent; its deeper origin is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
coluber
“Snake or serpent, especially a large or dangerous one.”
1st Century CE
Latin
Coluber
“A Latin zoological name used in descriptions of snakes by Roman-era naturalists.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Coluber
“Adopted by Linnaean taxonomy as a genus name for snakes.”
Modern English
English
Coluber
“A scientific genus name used for certain snakes, particularly colubrid species.”