otter

¹

[ ot-er ]

noun

, plural ot·ters, (especially collectively) ot·ter.

1. any of several aquatic, furbearing, weasellike mammals of the genus Lutra and related genera, having webbed feet and a long, slightly flattened tail.
2. the fur of an otter.

Otter

²

[ ot-er ]

noun

1. (in the Volsunga Saga ) a son of Hreidmar, who assumed the form of an otter when fishing, and who was killed by Loki while in that form.

otter

/ ˈɒtə /

noun

1. any freshwater carnivorous musteline mammal of the subfamily Lutrinae, esp Lutra lutra ( Eurasian otter ), typically having smooth fur, a streamlined body, and webbed feet
2. the fur of any of these animals
3. Also calledotter board a type of fishing tackle consisting of a weighted board to which hooked and baited lines are attached

verb

1. to fish using an otter

Word History and Origins

Origin of otter¹

before 900; Middle English otter, oter, Old English otor, ottor; cognate with Dutch, German otter; compare Greek hýdra water serpent ( hydra ), Sanskrit udra- otter; akin to water

Word History and Origins

Origin of otter¹

Old English otor; related to Old Norse otr, Old High German ottar , Greek hudra , Sanskrit udra

Example Sentences

The lives of Billy and Susan Mail changed forever when a starving otter cub showed up at their doorstep.

From BBC

He claimed avoidable deaths occurred, adding: "A peacock flew into the giant otter enclosure and the two giant otters ripped its head off in front of a school group."

From BBC

Ash said he and the team bathed in the river at night with electric eel, caiman, sting rays, giant river otters and piranha.

From BBC

Mr Goss said it took a lot of work to get the otter – who was too young to be separated from his mother – out of the engine.

From BBC

The proposed sanctuary will protect over 200 shipwrecks, along with a diverse ecosystem featuring wildlife such as sea otters, humpback whales, leatherback sea turtles and lush kelp forests.

From Salon