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

The community college hosts art exhibits and plays, while its lakes are dotted with large statues of otters, loons, and other critters. —Nick Fouriezos, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2024

Checking a dead otter for bird flu infection last year on Chepeconde Beach in Peru. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Sea otters have long been beloved for their fuzzy coats and rambunctious personalities, but when a video of two sea otters holding paws while sleeping at the Vancouver Aquarium went viral in 2007, people around the world began to associate this heart-warming image with otters. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024

The trailer for Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story sees Bill Mail and his wife, Susan, rescuing a starving wild otter that swims onto their jetty in remote Scotland. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024

Sea otters and gray whales (seasonally) may be seen just offshore, while the volcanic remnant Point Sur, topped by Point Sur Lighthouse, rounds out the view to the south. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024

Otter attacks While rabid otter attacks like the one Joseph Scaglione experienced are rare, erratic otters have made headlines in recent months. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2023

Shortly afterwards, a trio of otters appeared about six inches from her face. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2023

By 2012 Whiskers and male otter Lucius gave birth to the first litter of river otters at the Detroit Zoo in 50 years. —Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024

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