adder: [OE] In Old English, the term for a snake (any snake, not just an adder) was n?ddre; there are or were related forms in many other European languages, such as Latin natrix, Welsh neidr, and German natter (but there does not seem to be any connection with the natterjack toad). Around the 14th century, however, the word began to lose its initial consonant. The noun phrase including the indefinite article, a nadder, became misanalysed as an adder, and by the 17th century nadder had disappeared from the mainstream language (though it survived much longer in northern dialects).
adder (n.)
Old English n?ddre "a snake, serpent, viper," from Proto-Germanic *n?dro "a snake" (cognates: Old Norse naera, Middle Dutch nadre, Old High German natra, German Natter, Gothic nadrs), from PIE root *netr- (cognates: Latin natrix "water snake," probably by folk-association with nare "to swim;" Old Irish nathir, Welsh neidr "adder").
The modern form represents a faulty separation 14c.-16c. into an adder, for which see also apron, auger, nickname, humble pie, umpire. Nedder is still a northern English dialect form. Folklore connection with deafness is via Psalm lviii:1-5. The adder is said to stop up its ears to avoid hearing the snake charmer called in to drive it away. Adderbolt (late 15c.) was a former name for "dragonfly."
例文
1. He is as deaf as a post[stone,door-post,door-nail,an adder .
彼は完全に耳が聞こえなくなった.
2.The adder is Britain 's only venomus snake.
重水素蛇はイギリスで唯一の毒蛇である。
3.By far the most common snake in Britain is the adder .
イギリスで最も一般的な蛇は重水素蛇である。
中級百科部から
4.The adder is also the only British snake with a poisonous bite.
重水素蛇はイギリスでも唯一有毒な蛇である。
中級百科部から
5.Why，thou art as foul as the toal，and as loathsome as the adder .