Snake Feeder
In Southern and Appalachian speech, a snake feeder is another folk name for a dragonfly - rooted in the old belief that dragonflies feed snakes or hover where snakes are found.
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synonyms: dragonfly (folk name), snake doctor, devil’s darning needle
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Snake feeder' is only I've only read, not heard. So I'm assuming it's more of a regional, old timers phrase. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Snake feeder' is only I've only read, not heard. So I'm assuming it's more of a regional, old timers phrase. Pronunciation
[SNAKE-FEE-dur] /ˈsneɪk ˌfiːdɚ/
Meaning & Usage
- A dragonfly (folk name)
Tommy:
Look at them snake feeders dartin’ over the water.
Look at them snake feeders dartin’ over the water.
Ruby:
Grandma says they feed snakes - I think they’re just dragonflies.
Grandma says they feed snakes - I think they’re just dragonflies.variations: snake feeder, snakefeeders
★ Southerners use "snake feeder" alongside "snake doctor" as interchangeable folk names for dragonflies. ★
Origin and Etymology
Documented in Southern and Appalachian folklore and newspapers since at least the late 19th century. People believed dragonflies fed snakes or followed them to water, inspiring the nickname.
Usage Notes
- Snake feeder - folk name for a dragonfly found in Southern and Appalachian speech.
- Related to snake doctor and devil’s darning needle.
- Still recognized among older speakers but largely replaced by "dragonfly" in everyday use.