joint snake

joint snake (plural joint snakes)

1. A mythical creature of the southern United States, a snake that can reassemble itself when broken or cut into pieces.
   • 1941, Arkansas: a guide to the state:

     The farmer, however, knowing the habits of joint snakes, had hidden one of the middle pieces in his pocket.

   • 1988, Harold Sinclair, American Years:

     Nat knew, though he had never seen one, that there were such things as joint snakes and hoop snakes.

   • 2007, Gil Adamson, The Outlander:

     You take them joint snakes, now. That's not one of God's works. You hit one, he breaks into pieces, layin' on the ground like a broken icicle...

• hoop snake