anaconda

 
Pronunciation: /ˌanəˈkɒndə/

noun

  • a semiaquatic snake of the boa family which may grow to a great size, native to tropical South America.
    • Genus Eunectes, family Boidae: several species

Origin:

mid 18th century (originally denoting a kind of Sri Lankan snake): unexplained alteration of Latin anacandaia 'python', from Sinhalese henakaňdayā 'whip snake', from hena 'lightning' + kaňda 'stem'