Where did a traitor get the name "copperhead"?

beergirllaura

'Copperhead' was a name given to a group of Democrats located in the northern US who opposed the American Civil War. They collaborated with the Confederates, and some of them went as far as trying to persuade Union soldiers to desert. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperheads_%28politics%29 Jun 28 12, 6:22 PM

bloomsby

Note that "copperhead" is _not_ a general term for "traitor". It is not in use in British English, for example. Jun 28 12, 6:53 PM

tadpoles_uk

Bloomsby: no doubt that's because the poisonous snake called a copperhead is native to North America. And, if they existed in Britain they would probably be called something else. Jun 28 12, 7:48 PM

tadpoles_uk

After a little reading, found out that copperheads also exist in Australia and parts of Asia. Jun 28 12, 7:51 PM

star_gazer

One of the best-known terms in American history is copperhead. It is famous for its use during the Civil War, and its origin has been the subject of much speculation and debate. In the animal world, the copperhead is a pit viper (a venomous snake with a sensory pit on each side of its head) common in the eastern and central United States. It is named for its copper-colored head. While not as venomous as a comparably sized rattlesnake, another American pit viper, the copperhead, even more than the rattlesnake, came to symbolize a hated enemy. That reputation stemmed from the fact that the rattlesnake warned of its presence, while the copperhead did not. The rattlesnake signaled its impending attack by producing a rattling noise with the rattle on the end of its tail. The copperhead, however, with no rattle, gave no such warning. Furthermore, the copperhead's back was covered with dark, reddish brown crossbands that made the snake difficult to see, especially in fallen leaves. The copperhead, then, was an unheard, unseen enemy. It came to typify vicious sneakiness and unexpected hostility. That symbolism shows up in the various ways that copperhead has been extended through the years since the name was first applied (by 1775) to the snake. Jun 28 12, 7:56 PM

star_gazer

http://voices.yahoo.com/copperhead-origin-famous-civil-war-term-3669533.html?cat=37 Jun 28 12, 7:57 PM

houston1127

Another note. Even in American English, copperhead is not a general term for a traitor. Jun 29 12, 6:50 AM