Tod

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A young frog or toad, particularly in its larval stage, often found in water
2. An informal term for an amphibian that is not yet fully mature, specifically referring to a tadpole
3. A colloquial reference to a juvenile version of a frog, characterized by its aquatic habitat and gradual development into an adult form

Etymology: The origin of this word is uncertain, but a family of related words points to an image of bundling. German "Zotte" means "clotted hair," Saterland Frisian "todde" means "bundle," and the dialect Swedish "todd" means a mass of wool. Some scholars think the English word may share that source, though the link is not proven. A separate English "tod," meaning fox, may also have influenced the young-frog sense. That word is traced to the fox's bushy tail, and it is plausible that the two blended in use, though the connection is only possible. The frog sense is recorded mainly in regional English, so the word has stayed largely local rather than entering the standard vocabulary.

Synonyms: fox, red fox