Definition of Otter

1. Noun. The fur of an otter.

Generic synonyms: Fur, Pelt

2. Noun. Freshwater carnivorous mammal having webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur.
Generic synonyms: Mustelid, Musteline, Musteline Mammal
Group relationships: Genus Lutra, Lutra
Specialized synonyms: Lutra Canadensis, River Otter, Eurasian Otter, Lutra Lutra

Definition of Otter

1. n. Any carnivorous animal of the genus Lutra, and related genera. Several species are described. They have large, flattish heads, short ears, and webbed toes. They are aquatic, and feed on fish. Their fur is soft and valuable. The common otter of Europe is Lutra vulgaris; the American otter is L. Canadensis; other species inhabit South America and Asia.

2. n. A corruption of Annotto.

Definition of Otter

1. Proper noun. A river whose source in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset, and which flows into Lyme Bay in English Channel. ¹

2. Noun. Any aquatic or marine carnivorous mammal, member of the family ''Mustelidae'', which also includes weasels, polecats, badgers, and others. ¹

3. Noun. (context: gay slang) A hairy man with a slender physique, in contrast with a bear, who is more broadly set ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Otter

1. a carnivorous mammal [n -S]

Medical Definition of Otter

1. 1. Any carnivorous animal of the genus Lutra, and related genera. Several species are described. They have large, flattish heads, short ears, and webbed toes. They are aquatic, and feed on fish. Their fur is soft and valuable. The common otter of Europe is Lutra vulgaris; the American otter is L. Canadensis; other species inhabit South America and Asia. 2. The larva of the ghost moth. It is very injurious to hop vines. Otter hound, Otter dog Origin: OE. Oter, AS. Otor; akin to D. & G. Otter, Icel. Otr, Dan. Odder, Sw. Utter, Lith. Udra, Russ, vuidra, Gr. Water serpent, hydra, Skr. Udra otter, and also to E. Water. 137. See Water, and cf. Hydra. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Otter

ototoxic
ototoxicities
ototoxicity
ototoxin
ototoxins
otozoum
ottar
ottars
ottava
ottava rima
ottavas
ottavino
ottavinos
ottawas
ottemannite
otter (current term)
otter civet
otter hound
otter shrew
ottered
otterhound
ottering
otterless
otterlike
otterpox
otters
otterskin
otterskins
otto of rose
ottoman

Literary usage of Otter

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1895)
"A training college was erected at Chichester by public subscription in 1849-50 as a memorial of his labours, and is still called the otter College, ..."

2. The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton, Charles Cotton (1904)
"Come, many dogs and more men all in pursuit of the otter. Let honest Venator, let us be gone, ... N. Gentleman-huntsman, where found you this otter? HUNT. ..."

3. St. Nicholas by Mary Mapes Dodge (1882)
"always sure of having his otter, whether he got any fish or not. In England, otter-hunting used to be a favorite amusement, and in some parts of the country ..."

4. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1910)
"In 1518 otter became pastor at Wolfenweiler, near Freiburg, ... King Ferdinand and his counselors viewed otter solely as an agitator and seducer of ..."

5. The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with Its Organization by Georges Cuvier, Edward Griffith, Charles Hamilton Smith, Edward Pidgeon, John Edward Gray, George Robert Gray (1827)
"The Sea otter (Mustela Lutris) is full twice the size of the Common otter: the body is ... During winter, the Sea otter confines itself to the ice near the ..."

6. The American Boys Handy Book by Daniel Carter Beard (1890)
"By means of a breast-band rigged like that on a kite, a strong tow-line is fastened to the "otter." At intervals along the tow-line, shorter lines are ..."

7. The Algonquin Legends of New England: Or, Myths and Folk Lore of the Micmac by Charles Godfrey Leland (1884)
"And the otter made him welcome, and directed his housekeeper to get ready to cook; saying which, he took the hooks on which he was wont ..."

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