What does moccasin mean?
A moccasin is a soft, flexible shoe traditionally made from leather, with a construction that often includes a raised sole and visible stitching. In North America, the word is also the name of a group of venomous snakes, including the water moccasin, or cottonmouth. As a shoe, a moccasin is associated with Indigenous craft traditions and with styles of dress that emphasize comfort and natural materials. As a snake name, it is firmly established in American and Canadian English, although the word is not limited to one species. The two senses are both common enough that context usually makes the intended meaning clear. The word’s unusual range—from an article of clothing to a dangerous reptile—makes it especially memorable in vocabulary and word games.
A soft, flexible shoe traditionally made from leather, often with a raised or stitched sole.
"The artisan made a pair of moccasins from deer hide."
Chiefly North American; the term can also refer broadly to a traditional Indigenous North American shoe.
Any of various venomous snakes of the genus Agkistrodon, including the water moccasin or cottonmouth.
"The moccasin remained hidden among the reeds near the water."
The name is especially common in North America. “Cottonmouth” is a more specific common name for the water moccasin.
The regular plural is used for both the shoes and the snakes.
"The museum displayed several moccasins and pairs of moccasin shoes."
The word refers both to a traditional North American shoe and to a strikingly patterned venomous snake.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does moccasin come from?
The word entered English from an Eastern Algonquian language of the northeastern coast of North America. In its original Native American use, it referred to a kind of footwear made from animal hide, and the English borrowing preserved that sense. The use of the same word for a patterned venomous snake developed later in North America, probably through visual resemblance between the snake's markings and the shoe.
How moccasin is actually used
As footwear, the word is chiefly North American and may carry associations with Indigenous North American craftsmanship and traditional clothing. As the name of a snake, it is also common in North American English, although the term is not limited to one species.
Easily confused with moccasin
A moccasin is also the name of a venomous snake; when the footwear is intended, use the word with a reference to shoes or footwear.