Otter \Ot"ter\, n. [OE. oter, AS. otor; akin to D. & G. otter,
Icel. otr, Dan. odder, Sw. utter, Lith. udra, Russ, vuidra,
Gr. "y`dra water serpent, hydra, Skr. udra otter, and also to
E. water. [root]137, 215. See Water, and cf. Hydra.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) 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. (Zo["o]l.) The larva of the ghost moth. It is very
injurious to hop vines.
Otter hound, Otter dog (Zo["o]l.), a small breed of
hounds, used in England for hunting otters.
Otter sheep. See Ancon sheep, under Ancon.
Otter shell (Zo["o]l.), very large bivalve mollusk
(Schizoth[ae]rus Nuttallii) found on the northwest coast
of America. It is excellent food, and is extensively used
by the Indians.
Sea otter. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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