otter

noun

ot·​ter ˈä-tər How to pronounce otter (audio)
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

Illustration of otter
  • otter 1

Examples of otter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With the decline of protective coastal kelp and a now-healthy population of white sharks in the region’s waters, migrating otters stand a good chance of becoming great white snack food. David Helvarg, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 The facility currently has 4 otters in an enclosure designed for 2. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2024 In addition to that, there will also be new characters, or friends, that guests will meet at the attraction including an otter, rabbit, raccoon, beaver, turtle and more. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 15 Feb. 2024 Our recent study compared fur fibers from beavers, otters, springbok, coyotes and more using a flow of water containing titanium dioxide, a common additive in cosmetics. Discover Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 The extra animals cause the enclosure floor to remain wet constantly from the otters jumping in and out of their pool. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2024 Recent controversy aside, a rowboat is a throne’s otter. Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024 The non-fiction section includes entries about clothing brand Brandy Melville, two otters in love, and Stormy Daniels. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2024 This 1,293-square-mile reserve, with its meadows, peat bogs, moors, rivers and forests that are home to butterflies, otters and birds, looks like a location out of a fairy tale. Catherine Garcia, theweek, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'otter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of otter was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near otter

Cite this Entry

“Otter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

otter

noun
ot·​ter ˈät-ər How to pronounce otter (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on otter

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