English · Word Candidate

cobra

/ˈkəʊbɹə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cobras

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any of the genus Naja of venomous snakes that can spread their neck ribs into a broad hood when threatened; a true cobra.

Noun

Examples

In the pools, too, was a species of small alligator or enormous iguana, I do not know which, that fed, Billali told me, upon the waterfowl, also large quantities of a hideous black water-snake, of which the bite is very dangerous, though not, I gathered, so deadly as a cobra's or a puff adder's.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Certain other snakes of the family Elapidae. — A ring-necked spitting cobra or rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus).

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A cabinet committee meeting that would use a COBR room

NounRegister: UK

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A cabinet committee that would meet using a COBR room

NounRegister: UK

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cobra” mean?

Any of the genus Naja of venomous snakes that can spread their neck ribs into a broad hood when threatened; a true cobra.

Is “cobra” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.