Serpentine

a. [Lat. serpentinus, It. & Sp. serpentino, Fr. serpentin, Pr. serpentin, serpenti.] Resembling a serpent; having the shape or qualities of a serpent; winding or turning one way and the other, like a moving serpent; anfractuous; meandering; crooked; spiral.

The shape Like his, and color serpentine. Milton.

Serpentine tongue (Far.), a tongue moving like a serpent; — said of a horse's tongue when he is constantly moving it, and sometimes passing it over the bit. — Serpentine verse, a verse which begins and ends with the same word.

n. [Fr. serpentine, Sp. serpentin, It. serpentino.] (Min.) A mineral or rock consisting chiefly of the hydrous silicate of magnesia, and usually of an obscure green color, with shades and spots arising from the presence of small quantities of chromic iron, which give it a spotted or mottled appearance resembling a serpent's skin. The finer varieties, called precious or noble serpentine, are translucent, and of different shades of rich oil-green color, usually dark, but sometimes pale.