serpentinize 
A specimen of the variety of picrite known as scyelite 
was discovered by Bonney in the island of Sark, British 
Channel. It consists of serpetitinizfd olivine, altered au- 
gite, bleached mica. Amer. Nat., Nov., 18S9, p. 1007. 
serpentinoid (ser'pen-tin-oid), a. [< serpcn- 
tinc + -OK/.] Having in a more or less imper- 
fect degree the character of serpentine. 
The prevalence of serpentines and obscure serpentinoid 
rocks in great masses in these altered portions [the Coast 
ranges of California] is also a fact of much geological in- 
terest. J. D. Whitmy, Encyo. Brit., XXIII. 801. 
serpentinous(ser'pen-tiu-us), a. [< serpentine 
+ -nun.'] Relating 'to, of the nature of, or re- 
sembling serpentine. 
So as not ... to disturb the arrangement of the ser- 
pentinous residuum. W. E. Carpenter, Micros., 495. 
serpentiyet (ser'pen-tiv), a. [< serpent + -ire.] 
Serpentine. [Bare.] 
And finding this serpenKve treason broken in the shell 
do but lend your reverend ears to his next designs. 
Shirley, The Traitor, iii. 1. 
serpentize (ser'pen-tiz), v. i. ; pret. and pp. ser- 
pentized, ppr. serpentining. [\scrpent + -4ze.] 
To wind; turn or bend, first in one direction 
and then in the opposite ; meander. [Rare.] 
The path, serpentining through this open grove, leads us 
by an easy ascent to a ... small bench. 
Sheiatone, Works (ed. 1791), II. 296. 
Even their bridges must not be straight ; . . . they ser- 
pentine as much as the rivulets. 
Walpole, On Modern Gardening. 
serpent-like (ser'pent-lik),a<fo. Like a serpent. 
She hath . . . struck me with her tongue, 
Most serpent-like, upon the very heart. 
Shalt., Lear, ii. 4. 163. 
serpent-lizard (ser'pent-liz"ard), . A lizard 
of the genus Seps. 
serpent-moss (ser'pent-m6s), . A greenhouse 
plant, Selaginella serpens, from the West Indies, 
serpentry (ser'pen-tri),. ; pi. serpentries(-triz). 
[< serpeii t + -n/.] 1 . A winding about, or turn- 
ing this way and that, like the writhing of a 
serpent; serpentine motion or course ; a mean- 
dering. Imp. Diet. 2. A place infested by 
serpents. Imp. Diet. 3. A number of serpents 
or serpentine beings collectively. [Rare.] 
Wipe away all slime 
Left by men -slugs and human serpentry. 
Keats, Endymion, i. 
serpent-star (ser'pent-star), . A brittle-star; 
an ophiuran. Also serpent starfish. 
serpent-stone (ser'pent-ston), n. 1. A porous 
substance, frequently found to consist of char- 
red bone, which is supposed to possess the vir- 
tue of extracting the venoin from a snake-bite 
when applied to the wound. It has been often used 
for this purpose by ignorant or superstitious people in all 
parts of the world. Also called snakestone. 
2. Same as adder-stone. 
serpent's-tongue (ser'pents-tung), . 1. Afern 
of the genus Opliioglossum, especially 0. vul- 
gatum, so called from the form of its fronds; 
adder's-tongue. See cut under Ophioglossum. 
2. A name given to the fossil teeth of a spe- 
cies of shark, because they show resemblance to 
tongues with their roots. 3. A name given to 
a short sword or dagger whose blade is divided 
into two points, especially a variety of the In- 
dian kuttar Serpent's-tongue drill. See drilli. 
serpent-turtle (ser'pent-ter"tl), n. An enalio- 
saur. 
serpent-withe (ser'pent-with), n. A twining 
plant, Aristolochia odoratissima, of tropical 
America. It is said to have properties analo- 
gous to those of the Virginia snakeroot. 
serpentWOOd (ser'pent-wud), n. An East In- 
dian shrub, Rauwolfia (Ophioxylori) serpentina. 
The root is used in India medicinally, as a febrifuge, as an 
antidote to the bites of poisonous reptiles, iu dysentery, 
and otherwise. 
serpett (ser'pet), . [Appar. < OF. *serpet (f ), 
dim., equiv. to L. dim. sirpiculus, scirpiculus, 
a basket made of rushes, < sirpus, scirpus, a 
rush.] A basket. 
So the troupe returning in order as they came ; after 
are carried in Serpets their presents and apparel]. 
Sandys, Travailes, p. 52. 
serpette (ser-pef), n. [F., dim. of serpe, a bill, 
priming-knife.] A curved or hooked pruning- 
knife. 
serpierite (ser'pi-er-it), n. [Named from M. 
Serpier, an explorer at Laurion.] A basic sul- 
phate of copper and zinc, occurring in minute 
tabular crystals of a greenish-blue color at the 
zinc-mines of Laurion in Greece. 
serpiginous (ser-pij'i-nus), a. [< ML. serpigo 
(-ain-), ringworm: see serpigo.] 1. Affected 
with serpigo. 2. In med., noting certain affec- 
tions which creep, as it were, from one part 
to another: as, serpiginous erysipelas. 
Mass of Serpula Tubes, from 
one of which the tentacles of the 
worm are shown expanded. 
5513 
serpigo (ser-pi'go), n. [ML., ringworm, < L. 
serpere, creep, crawl: see serpent, ('f. lit-rpiv, 
from the same ult. source.] One or another 
form of herpes. See shingles. 
Thine own bowels . . . 
Do curse the gout, serpiijo, and the rheum, 
For ending thee no sooner. 
S/iak., M. for M., iii. 1. 31. 
serplath (ser'plath), n. [A corrupt form of 
"nerpler, sarplar : see sarplar.] A weight equal 
to 80 stones. [Scotch.] 
serplius (ser'pli-us), n. Same as supples. 
serpolet (ser'po-let), n. [< F. serpolet, OF. ser- 
lioiillet, dim. of *serpoul = Pr. Sp. Pg. serpol = 
It. serpello, serpillo, < L. serpillum, serpyllum, 
serpullum,'vii\A thyme ( < Gr. epTrv%~Aof,wil& thyme, 
< ipireiv, creep: see serpent.] The wild thyme, 
Tliymus Serpyllum. 
Pleasant the short slender grass, . . . interrupted . . . 
by little troops of serpolet running in disorder here and 
there. Landar, Imag. Conv., Achilles and Helena. 
Serpolet-oil, a fragrant essential oil distilled from the 
wild thyme for perfumery use. 
Serpula (ser'pu-la), . [NL., < L. serpere, 
creep, crawl : see serpent.'] 1 . A Linnean (1758) 
genus of worms, subse- 
quently used with va- 
rious restrictions, now 
type of the family Ser- 
pulidse. They are cephalo- 
branchiate tubicolous anne- 
lids, inhabiting cylindrical 
and serpentine or tortuous 
calcareous tubes, often mass- 
ed together in a confused 
heap, and attached to rocks, 
shells, etc. , in the sea. These 
tubes are so solid as to re- 
semble the shells of some 
mollusks, and are closed by 
an operculum formed by a 
shelly plate on one of the ten- 
tacles. They are in general 
beautifully colored. The larg- 
est are found in tropical seas. 
2. \_l. e.] A worm of this or some related genus ; 
also, a tube or bunch of tubes of such worms ; 
a serpuliau or serpulite. 
serpulan (ser'pu-lan), n. [< Serpula + -an.'] 
Same as serpulian." 
serpulian (ser-pvi'li-an), . [< Serpula + -ian.~\ 
A member of the genus Serpula. 
Serpulidse (ser-pu'li-de), n.pl. [NL., < Serpula 
+ -idee.'] A family of marine tubicolous cepha- 
lobranchiate annelids, typified by the genus 
Serpula, to which different limits have been 
assigned. See cuts under Protiila and Serpula. 
serpulidan (ser-pu'li-dan), a. and w. [< Serpn- 
lidee + -an.] I. a. Of or pertaining to the 
family Serpulidx. 
II. . A worm of this family. 
serpulite (ser 'pu -lit), . [< NL. Serpula + 
-ite z .~\ A fossil of the family Serpulidx, or some 
similar object; specifically, one of the fossils 
upon which a genus Serpulites is founded. Such 
formations are tubes, sometimes a foot long, occurring in 
the Silurian rocks, supposed to have been inhabited by 
worms. 
serpulitic (ser-pu-lit'ik), a. [< serpulite + -ic.~\ 
Resembling a serpulite ; containing or pertain- 
ing to serpulites. 
serpuloid (ser'pu-loid), a. [< Serpula + -aid.] 
Resembling the genus Serpula; like or likened 
to the Serpulidse. 
serrt (ser), v. t. [< OF. (and F.) serrer, close, 
compact, press near together, lock, = Pr. sar- 
rar, serrar = Sp. Pg. cerrar = It. serrare, < LL. 
serare, fasten with a bolt or bar, bolt, < L. sera, 
a bar: see sera. Hence serried, serry."] To 
crowd, press, or drive together. 
Let us, serred together, forcibly breake into the river, 
and we shall well enough ride through it. 
Knolles, Hist. Turks (1603). (Nares.) 
The heat doth attenuate, and . . . doth send forth the 
spirit and moister part of a body ; and, upon that, the more 
gross of the tangible parts do contract and serre themselves 
together. Bacan, Nat. Hist., 82. 
serra (ser'a), n. ; pi. serree (-e). [NL.,< L. serra, 
a saw: see serrate."] In zool., anat., and bot., 
a saw or saw-like part or organ; a serrated 
structure or formation; a set or series of serra- 
tions; a serration, pectination, or dentation: 
as, (a) the saw of a saw-fish (see cut under Pris- 
tis), (6) the saw of a saw-fly (see cuts under 
rose-slug and Seciirifera), (e) a serrate suture of 
the skull (see cuts under cranium and. parietal). 
serradilla (ser-a-dil'a), n. [Pg., dim. of ser- 
rado, serrate : see serrate. ] A species of bird's- 
foot clover, Ornithopus satirus, cultivated in 
Europe as a forage-plant. Also serradelln. 
Serranidse (se-ran'i-de), n. pi. [NL. (Richard- 
sou, 1848), < Serranus + -fe.] A family of 
Serrasalnioninae 
acanthopterygian fishes, typified by the genus 
Serranun, related to the 1'ereidse and by most 
ichthyologists united with that family, and 
containing about 40 genera and 300 species of 
carnivorous fishes of all warm seas, many of 
them known as groupers, sea-bass, rockfish, etc. 
(a) By Sir John Richardson, the name was applied in a 
vague and Irregular manner, but his family included all 
the true Sermnidfe of recent ichthyologists, (b) By Jor- 
dan and Gilbert, the name was applied to all acanthop- 
terygians with the ventral tins thoracic and perfect, the 
lower pharyngeal bones separate, scales well developed, 
pectoral nns entire, skull not especially cavernous, max- 
illary not sloping under the preorbital for its whole 
length, mouth nearly horizontal, and anal fin rather short. 
The family thus included the Centropvniidse and Rhypti- 
cidse, as well as true Serranidse. (c) In Gill's system, 
the name was restricted to serranoids with the body ob- 
long and compressed and covered with scales, the head 
compressed and the cranium normal, the supramaxil- 
laries not retractile behind under the suborbitals, the 
spinous part of the dorsal fin about as long as the soft 
or longer, and three anal spines developed. The family 
as thus restricted includes about 300 fishes, which chiefly 
inhabit the tropical seas ; but a considerable contingent 
live in the temperate seas. It includes many valuable 
food-fishes. The jewflsh or black sea-bass is Stereolepis 
gigas; the stone-bass is Polyprion cernium. The groupers 
or garrupas are fishes of this family, of the genera Epi- 
nephelus and Trisotropie. Other notable genera are Promt- 
crops and Dules. See cuts under sea-bass, Serranus, and 
grouper. 
Serrano (se-ra'no), n. [< Sp. (Cuban) serrano, 
< NL. Serranus."] A fish, Serranus or Diplectrum 
fasciculare, the squirrel-fish of the West Indies 
and southern Atlantic States. See squirrel-fish. 
serranoid (ser'a-noid), a. and n. [< Serranus + 
-ozrf.] I. a. Resembling a fish of the genus 
Serranus; of or pertaining to the Serranidas in 
a broad sense. 
II. n. A member of the Serranidx. 
Serranus (se-ra'nus), n. [NL. (Cuvier and 
Valenciennes, 1828), < L. serra, a saw: see ser- 
rate.] 1. The typical genus of Serranidse; the 
sea-perches or sea-bass. The maxillary is not sup- 
plemented with another bone, and the lateral canines are 
stronger than those in front. The type of the genus is the 
Mediterranean S. scriba. S. cabritta is a British species. 
Smooth Serranus (.5. 
Among American species related and by some referred to 
Serramw may be noted Centropristu atrarius, the black sea- 
bass or blackflsh, from Cape Cod to Florida, 1 2 inches long ; 
the squirrel-fish or serrano, Diplectrum fasciculare. West 
Indies to South Carolina ; Paralalrrax clathratwi, the rock- 
bass or cabrilla of California, attaining a length of 18 inches ; 
and P. nebvlifer, the Johnny Verde of the same region. 
See also cut under sea-bass. 
2. [I. c."] A member of this genus: as, the let- 
tered serranus, S. scriba; the smooth serranus, S. 
cabrilla. 
Serrasalmo (ser-a-sal'mo), n. [NL. (Lacepede, 
1803), < L. serra, a saw, + salmo, a salmon.] A 
genus of characinoid fishes having an adipose 
Piraya or Caribe (Serrasalmo drnticiilatits}. 
fin like a salmon's, and the belly compressed 
and armed with scales projecting so as to give 
it a saw-like appearance : typical of the sub- 
family Serrasalmoninie. See piraya. 
Serrasalmoninae (ser-a-sal-mo-m'ne), n. pi. 
[NL., < Serrasalmo(n-) ' -4MB.] A subfamily 
of characinoid fishes, typified by the genus Ser- 
rasalmo. They have a compressed high body, with the 
belly sharply compressed and the scales developed to give 
a serrated appearance to it ; the branchial apertures wide ; 
the branchial membrane deeply incised, and free below ; the 
dorsal fin elongated, and an adipose fin. The teeth are well 
developed and mostly trenchant. The species are char- 
acteristic of the fresh waters of tropical South America. 
Among them are some of the most dreaded and carnivorous 
of fishes. By means of their sharp teeth they are enabled 
to cut the flesh of animals as with a pair of scissors, and 
where they are found it is impossible for an animal to go 
into the water without danger. They are attracted by the 
smell of blood, and congregate from considerable distances 
to any spot where blood has been spilt. They are best 
known by the name of caribe. Many species have been 
