Tank Hunters

[Weaver]

Oh well, there goes another cherished childhood factoid. I'd always been told that "Adder" was a uniquely British term for our species of Viper, but on looking it up, I find that the term is used all over the world too....

[beowulf]

Perhaps paint it black?  

thats a rather cunning plan

ba-boom tish     

[rickshaw]

Perhaps paint it black?   

thats a rather cunning plan

ba-boom tish 

I can see you going far, my boy.  The further the better for all concerned.   

[Mossie]

Oh well, there goes another cherished childhood factoid. I'd always been told that "Adder" was a uniquely British term for our species of Viper, but on looking it up, I find that the term is used all over the world too....

You're right, but I think the Adder at least startted as a British affectation, given to many snakes with Adder/Viper similarities.  As far as I'm aware, us Brits are the only ones to refer to the European Viper as an Adder.

As a complete aside, I stopped the missus trodding on one in Dalby Forest (near Pickering) a little while back.  It was basking & doing it's usual thing, looking like a stick.  A few more steps & she'd have been bitten, okay you're not going die from an Adder bite but it going to put a dampner on your day.

[ChernayaAkula]

<...> As far as I'm aware, us Brits are the only ones to refer to the European Viper as an Adder. <...>

It's German name is Kreuzotter, which would translate to "crossed adder".

[jcf]

origin Old English nædre 'serpent, adder', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch adder and German Natter.
The initial n was lost in Middle English by wrong division of a naddre into an addre;
compare with a napron ( an apron), a nauger (an auger), and a noumpere (an umpire).
                                                                                                                               

[beowulf]

thanks for all the help, guys 

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,30796.0.html