: 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe Fish and Wildlife Service recommended that more research be done specifically regarding potential sites and the socioeconomic effects of otter reintroduction.Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2022 The otter skins wrapped around her braids were tied with pink beaded hair ties, and a pink shawl was draped around her shoulders.New York Times, 30 July 2022 River otter populations have declined since the 1600s for numerous reasons, including the fur trade and loss of habitat. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 7 May 2022 Sea otter numbers have been largely stagnant in California for over a decade. Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 May 2022 Junior also speaks to John Hartig, a member of the board of directors for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, about the long history of the otter and its return.Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2022 The otter has since been another rehabilitation center for more care. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2022 All those extra calories are mostly burned by the otter’s muscles. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 July 2021 The zoo will continue to post updates on Facebook as the otter kits grow and reach new milestones. Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2022 See More
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