† ˈcenchrine, cenchris Obs.
[ad. Gr. κεγχρίνης, κεγχρίς, L. cenchris, f. κέγχρος millet.]
A kind of snake mentioned by the ancients: ‘a serpent with millet-like protuberances on the skin’ (Liddell & Scott). (Hence, in mod. Zool., Cenchrina, a genus of the Rattlesnake family.)
| 1608 Topsell Serpents 743 Of the Millet or Cenchrine. 1627 May Lucan ix. 819 The Cenchris..Whose speckled belly with nine spots is dect. |