chélydre

a venomous and amphibious serpent

From Old French chelidre, chelydre, from Latin chelydrus (“fetid water serpent”), from Ancient Greek χέλυδρος (khéludros, “amphibious serpent”), from χέλυς (khélus, “tortoise”) + ὕδρος (húdros, “water serpent”). Cognate of English chelydre. The meaning of a snapping turtle by reanalysis back to the feminine noun χέλυς (khélus, “tortoise”).

a snapping turtle

From Old French chelidre, chelydre, from Latin chelydrus (“fetid water serpent”), from Ancient Greek χέλυδρος (khéludros, “amphibious serpent”), from χέλυς (khélus, “tortoise”) + ὕδρος (húdros, “water serpent”). Cognate of English chelydre. The meaning of a snapping turtle by reanalysis back to the feminine noun χέλυς (khélus, “tortoise”).