mamba 的詞源

非洲撒哈拉以南地區一種大型有毒蛇的名稱，可追溯至1859年，源自祖魯語 (i)mamba 或斯瓦希里語 mamba。

"Now about snakes. I have never forgotten your quiet, dignified unbelief in my snake histories, and have taken every opportunity of finding out all I can about them; more particularly of the 'mamba' or chasing snake. It is a most vicious creature, and will chase you a mile. You must ride hard if one makes for you. It reaches sixteen or eighteen feet, and has the power of erecting itself on its tail when in pursuit of its object; then throwing itself down and rushing on twenty yards or so, and then rearing up again: and so on, till it comes to some bush or tree, round which it throws its strong tail, and then strikes right and left at its enemies." [Journal of the Society of Arts, March 11, 1859]

"現在談談蛇。我從未忘記過你對我的蛇故事的安靜、莊重的不信任，一直利用一切機會了解蛇的一切； 尤其是‘mamba’或追逐蛇。這是一種非常兇惡的生物，會追你一英里。如果有一條蛇向你襲來，你必須騎得快。它可以長達十六或十八英尺，有能力在追逐目標時豎起自己的尾巴； 然後扔下自己，衝上二十碼左右，然後再次豎起：如此往復，直到它來到某些灌木叢或樹木周圍，在那裏用它強壯的尾巴繞着，然後向左右兩側打擊它的敵人。" [《藝術協會雜誌》，1859年3月11日]