A dialectal and now rare North American name for the common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). The name reflects folk taxonomy and regional naming conventions of earlier American naturalism, where unfamiliar species were often named by comparison to better-known ones. Now largely replaced by standardized common names in contemporary usage.
Old-timers in the area still called it a bastard horn snake, though the field guide listed it as a common kingsnake.
"bastard horn snake" means a dialectal and now rare north american name for the common kingsnake (lampropeltis getula). It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(US, dialectal, now, rare) The common kingsnake.
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