Kalmar "crotalus" yawanci tana nufin wani nau'in rattlesnake mai dafi na jinsin Crotalus, wanda ke samuwa a cikin Amurka. Kalmar ta fito daga Girkanci "krotalon," ma'ana "rattle," wanda ke nufin sautin da wutsiyar maciji ke yi. A cikin Ingilishi, ana amfani da kalmar "crotalus" a wasu lokuta don nufin duk wani maciji ko wani nau'in kayan kida mai kama da rattle.
