Adjacent Words

Otter definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OT'TER,
OT'TOMAN, a. Designating something that pertains to the Turks or to their government; as the ottoman power or empire. The word originated in Othman or Osman, the name of a sultan who assumed the government about the year 1300.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the fur of an otter
2: freshwater carnivorous mammal having webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural otters; also otter) Etymology: Middle English oter, from Old English otor; akin to Old High German ottar otter, Greek hyd?r water — more at water Date: before 12th century 1. any of various largely aquatic carnivorous mammals (as genus Lutra or Enhydra) of the weasel family that usually have webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur 2. the fur or pelt of an otter

Britannica Concise

Any of several carnivore species in four genera of semiaquatic, web-footed members of the weasel family (Mustelidae), found throughout Africa, N. and S. America, Europe, and Asia. Otters have the same general proportions as weasels. Size varies among species; total length is typically 3-7 ft (1-2 m) and weight is 6.5-60 lbs (3-27 kg); the large sea otter is an exception. Otter fur, especially that of N animals, is highly valued. Most species live near rivers; some live near lakes or streams; the sea otter is completely marine. Otters eat small aquatic animals. They are inquisitive and playful; a favorite sport is sliding down a mudbank and plunging into water.

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) In naval mine warfare, a device which, when towed, displaces itself sideways to a predetermined distance.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a any of several aquatic fish-eating mammals of the family Mustelidae, esp. of the genus Lutra, having strong claws and webbed feet. b its fur or pelt. 2 = sea otter. 3 a piece of board used to carry fishing-bait in water. 4 a type of paravane, esp. as used on non-naval craft. Phrases and idioms: otter-board a device for keeping the mouth of a trawl-net open. otter-dog (or -hound) a dog of a breed used in otter-hunting. Etymology: OE otr, ot(t)or f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Otter Ot"ter, n. A corruption of Annotto.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Otter Ot"ter, n. [OE. oter, AS. otor; akin to D. & G. otter, Icel. otr, Dan. odder, Sw. utter, Lith. udra, Russ, vuidra, Gr. "y`dra water serpent, hydra, Skr. udra otter, and also to E. water. [root]137, 215. See Water, and cf. Hydra.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any carnivorous animal of the genus Lutra, and related genera. Several species are described. They have large, flattish heads, short ears, and webbed toes. They are aquatic, and feed on fish. Their fur is soft and valuable. The common otter of Europe is Lutra vulgaris; the American otter is L. Canadensis; other species inhabit South America and Asia. 2. (Zo["o]l.) The larva of the ghost moth. It is very injurious to hop vines. Otter hound, Otter dog (Zo["o]l.), a small breed of hounds, used in England for hunting otters. Otter sheep. See Ancon sheep, under Ancon. Otter shell (Zo["o]l.), very large bivalve mollusk (Schizoth[ae]rus Nuttallii) found on the northwest coast of America. It is excellent food, and is extensively used by the Indians. Sea otter. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(otters) An otter is a small animal with brown fur, short legs, and a long tail. Otters swim well and eat fish. N-COUNT