Froglets

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A young frog at an early stage of metamorphosis from tadpole to adult; a small, immature form of a frog; any small, juvenile amphibian that resembles a frog and is undergoing development
2. Referring to a diminutive, developing amphibian transitioning from a tadpole into a more recognizable frog shape; a juvenile stage with limbs and reduced tail; a term used for young frogs that are just maturing
3. Denoting the stage in which amphibians begin to show features of frogs while still being relatively small; a small, early developmental form that has emerged from the tadpole stage; any young amphibian in this transitional phase

Etymology: "Froglets" is simply the plural of "froglet," formed by adding the diminutive suffix "-let" to "frog." The suffix comes from Old French "-elet," itself from Latin "-ellus" and "-ulus," which marked something small. English has used it for centuries to form words like "booklet," "streamlet," and "piglet," so "froglet" follows a familiar pattern: a little frog. The word thus names the young animal at the stage when it has lost its tail and gained legs but is still small, rather than a separate kind of creature. Because "-let" is a productive suffix, English speakers could coin such a term from any noun whenever a small version was needed.

Synonyms: tadpoles, young frogs