otter

¹ American  

[ot-er] / ˈɒt ər /

noun

plural

otters,

plural

otter

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.

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Otter ² American  

[ot-er] / ˈɒt ər /

noun

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

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otter British  

/ 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 called: otter board.  a type of fishing tackle consisting of a weighted board to which hooked and baited lines are attached

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verb

1. to fish using an otter

Etymology

Origin of otter

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

Example Sentences

From an otter, which the beaver pair seem to tolerate, to a hunting barn owl on the water's edge.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

What was viewed as merely eccentric in 1956, when Gavin Maxwell brought an otter back from the Tigris marshes, would now be seen as unethical, not to mention illegal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

As sea otter populations slowly recover, wolves may be reviving a predator-prey relationship that existed in the past.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

How sea otter pup was reunited with mom.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

He did not snatch it as he usually did, but waited to see what the young otter would do.

From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell