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Today it means

mamba

a highly venomous African snake known for speed and aggression

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Where does the word "mamba" come from? It comes from Zulu/Xhosa imamba, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

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Where does the word "mamba" come from? It comes from Zulu/Xhosa imamba, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Mamba’s story begins in Zulu/Xhosa: imamba meant “mamba snake.” The name for the highly venomous African snake. It reached English by 1800s as mamba. The black mamba is Africa's longest venomous snake. Today, mamba means a highly venomous African snake known for speed and aggression.

  1. Stage 1 · Zulu/Xhosa · ancient imamba "mamba snake", the name for the highly venomous African snake.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s mamba "a fast, venomous African snake", the black mamba is Africa's longest venomous snake.

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