Rana

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of frogs widely distributed around the world, often characterized by smooth, moist skin and long legs suited for jumping and swimming
2. Referring to a group of amphibians commonly found in diverse habitats, known for their croaking sounds and aquatic larval stages
3. Describing a type of amphibious vertebrate recognized by their hopping locomotion, permeable skin, and life cycle involving both water and land phases

Etymology: Frogs gave their name to a surname, and the genus name has a plainer origin. "Rana" is simply the Latin word for frog, which is why zoologists chose it for the group of true frogs. As an English family name, Rana began as a nickname for someone with bulging eyes or a croaky voice, taken directly from the frog word. Elsewhere the same spelling has other roots. In India, Rana is a Rajput surname, probably a back-formation from "rani", meaning queen, so that bearer's name may come from a word for royalty rather than an animal. A third line of the name is habitational: it comes from a village in the province of A Coruña in Galicia, Spain, and marks where a family once lived.

Synonyms: frog, anuran, amphibian, toad, tree frog