otter

noun

ot·​ter ˈä-tər 

plural otters also otter

1

: any of various largely aquatic carnivorous mammals (such 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

Illustration of otter

• otter 1

Examples of otter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

See, for instance, an otter whose fiddle looks composed of a paint thinner can and bottle caps. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

While some species are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, otters continue to inhabit areas of the United States and around the world. —Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2024

Mayflies rise in clouds from the marshes and streams where otters play. —Alexis Marie Adams, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024

There’s the boxing match between a raccoon and a groundhog, coached by a skunk; the woodland poker game with a bear cub smoking a corn pipe, an otter pouring himself a Hamm’s, and a cheating rabbit in pearls; and the chipmunks in bycockets and holsters roasting hot dogs over a campfire. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English otre, oter, otir, going back to Old English otr, oter, otor, going back to Germanic *utra- (whence also Middle Dutch otter "otter," Old High German ottar, Old Norse otr), going back to Indo-European *ud-r-o- "aquatic animal" (whence also Sanskrit udráḥ "aquatic animal, otter," Avestan udra-) with a feminine variant *ud-r-eh₂-, whence Latin lutra "otter" (with unetymological l- and -t-), Russian výdra, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian vȉdra, Lithuanian ū́dra, Old Prussian udro (Balto-Slavic with vowel lengthening and acute accent), Greek hýdra "aquatic snake, hydra" (also hýdros "the grass snake Natrix natrix," énydris "otter"); both forms zero-grade derivatives of Indo-European *u̯ód-r-/*u̯ed-n- "water" — more at water entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing otter

• river otter
• sea otter

Kids Definition

otter

noun

ot·​ter ˈät-ər 

plural otter or otters

1

: any of several water-dwelling mammals that are related to the weasels and minks, have webbed feet with claws and dark brown fur, and feed on other animals (as fish, clams, and crabs) that live in or near the water compare sea otter

2

: the fur or pelt of an otter