newt

[ noot, nyoot ]

noun

1. any of several brilliantly colored salamanders of the family Salamandridae, especially those of the genera Triturus and Notophthalmus, of North America, Europe, and northern Asia.
2. any of various other small salamanders.

newt

/ njuːt /

noun

1. any of various small semiaquatic urodele amphibians, such as Triturus vulgaris ( common newt ) of Europe, having a long slender body and tail and short feeble legs
2. any other urodele amphibian, including the salamanders

Word History and Origins

Origin of newt¹

1375–1425; late Middle English newte, for ewte (the phrase an ewte being taken as a newte; nickname ), variant of evet, Old English efete eft ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of newt¹

C15: from a newt, a mistaken division of an ewt; ewt, from Old English eveta eft ¹

Example Sentences

Many species are legally protected, such as badgers, bats and great crested newts, and Natural England has to issue a licence before any work can take place that could harm them.

From BBC

The funding will support the restoration of grassland, riverbank, wetland and woodland habitats that will support species such as willow tit, waxcaps and rare great-crested newts.

From BBC

For the most part, scientists have studied aspects of procreation in space only in animals, including fruit flies, frogs, newts, geckos, aquatic crustaceans, quails, rats, mice and, intriguingly, rams.

From New York Times

The world’s frogs, salamanders, newts and other amphibians remain in serious trouble, according to a report on species threatened with extinction.

From Los Angeles Times

The world’s frogs, salamanders, newts and other amphibians remain in serious trouble.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• frog
• salamander
• toad