ophiology
(ɒfɪˈɒlədʒɪ)
(Erron. ophidology).
[f. ophio- + -logy.]
That branch of zoology which treats of serpents. Hence ophioˈlogic, ophioˈlogical adjs.; ophiˈologist, one versed in the natural history of serpents.
| 1817 Blackw. Mag. May 187/1 Reserving the history of the serpent tribes for the article Ophiology. 1828 Webster, Ophiology, Ophiologic, Ophiological, Ophiologist. 1882 C. C. Hopley Snakes Introd. 19 To enrich ophiological literature. 1882 Stradling in Nature XXV. 378/1 Which motion..has, singularly enough, been very little commented upon by ophiologists. 1896 Academy 26 Dec. 604/2 The reason..which precludes the appointment of an official ophiologist in Iceland. [‘There are no snakes in Iceland’.] |