Python Definition

pīthŏn, -thən

pythons

noun

Any of a genus (Python, family Boidae) of very large, nonvenomous snakes of Asia, Africa, and Australia, that squeeze their prey to death.

Webster's New World

An enormous serpent that lurks in the cave of Mount Parnassus and is slain by Apollo.

Webster's New World

A soothsaying spirit or demon.

American Heritage

Any large snake that squeezes its prey to death.

Webster's New World

A person possessed by such a spirit.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

pronoun

(Greek mythology) The earth-dragon of Delphi, represented as a serpent, killed by Apollo.

Wiktionary

A programming language invented by Guido van Rossum, named after Monty Python.

Wiktionary

(informal) The British comedy troupe Monty Python.

Wiktionary

A member of Monty Python: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones or Michael Palin; referred to collectively as The Pythons.

John Cleese is perhaps the best-known of the Pythons.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Python

Noun

Singular:

python

Plural:

pythons

Origin of Python

From Ancient Greek Πύθων (Puthōn), the name of the mythological enormous serpent at Delphi slain by Apollo, from Πυθώ (PÅ«thō), the early name of Delphi, from πυθώ (puthō, “to rot, to decay").

From Wiktionary
From Ancient Greek Πύθων (Puthōn), from Πυθώ (PÅ«thō), the early name of Delphi, from πυθώ (puthō, “to rot, to decay").

From Wiktionary
Probably French from Latin Pȳthōn mythical serpent killed by Apollo near Delphi Python¹

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Latin Pȳthōn from Greek Pūthōn dheub- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition