Otter

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒt.ə/

Definitions

1. A playful and social mammal from the weasel family, it thrives in aquatic habitats with webbed feet and dense fur while primarily feeding on fish and small invertebrates
2. This semi-aquatic animal features a streamlined physique, adept swimming skills, and a carnivorous diet, often seen in groups near rivers and coastal areas
3. A member of the weasel family, this lively creature adapts well to water, known for its smooth fur and webbed feet, while mostly consuming aquatic prey like fish and crustaceans

Etymology: The otter's name is one of the oldest in the English language, and it is a close cousin of water itself. Old English "otor" descends from a Germanic root meaning "water animal," which in turn goes back to an Indo-European base shared with the word for water. Its relatives appear across the family: Dutch "otter," German "Otter," Swedish "utter," and, further afield, Sanskrit "udrá" and Russian "výdra." The connection reaches even further. Ancient Greek "hydra," the many-headed water serpent of myth, comes from the same ancestral word, so the otter and the mythical monster are doublets, two descendants of one root that took different paths into different languages. English "water" also belongs to this same family of words, meaning that a creature named for its watery habits and the element it lives in share a common origin.

Synonyms: weasel, marten, ferret