Serpentina

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A coiled, snake-like form or shape often found in artistic or decorative designs; a musical instrument similar to a serpent used in historic orchestras; a type of twisted paper streamer used as festive decoration
2. A stylized curving figure reminiscent of a snake used in visual arts; an old wind instrument resembling a serpent with a deep tone; decorative material made from long, spiral paper strips for celebrations
3. An ornamental sinuous shape mimicking a serpent’s movement in art; a rare, archaic brass instrument named for its snake-like design; colorful spiraled ribbons employed as party decorations

Etymology: "Serpentina" is a Latin-derived word, formed from "serpens" (serpent, snake) with the feminine adjectival suffix "-ina," and it is used in English for a snake-shaped ornament. Its usage is tied to a specific kind of object rather than to the snake itself: a serpentine or serpentina in the older sense meant a piece of ordnance, a long and slender cannon, named for its snaking form. The term is also found in heraldry and decorative arts as a term for ornaments in the shape of coiled serpents. The Latin root "serpens" comes from the verb "serpere," meaning to creep or crawl, which gives the word its sense of something that moves in a sinuous, sliding way. The same root gave English "serpent" and "serpentine," and the adjective "serpentine," meaning winding or twisting, shows the shape-based sense that connects these uses.

Synonyms: serpentine, serpentine mineral