newt

American  

[noot, nyoot] / nut, nyut /

noun

1. any of several brilliantly colored salamanders of the family Salamandridae, especially those of the genera Triturus and Notophthalmus, of North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

2. any of various other small salamanders.

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newt British  

/ njuːt /

noun

1. any of various small semiaquatic urodele amphibians, such as Triturus vulgaris ( common newt ) of Europe, having a long slender body and tail and short feeble legs

2. any other urodele amphibian, including the salamanders

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Etymology

Origin of newt

1375–1425; late Middle English newte, for ewte (the phrase an ewte being taken as a newte; nickname ), variant of evet, Old English efete eft ¹

Example Sentences

“We’ve planted 20,000 trees around the site, we’ve replaced habitats and homes for protected species like bats, newts and badgers and created wildflower meadows specifically for wildlife foraging,” the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is held on a Site of Special Scientific Interest at the Waen Rhydd bog, which is home to protected species like newts, frogs, various plants and the odd otter.

From BBC

Workers planted 285,000 trees to mitigate its significant environmental impact and creatures including bats, dormice and great crested newts have also been moved.

From BBC

Creatures including bats, dormice and great crested newts have also been moved.

From BBC

As night falls over the water, Alpine newts begin their silent hunt.

From BBC

Related Words

• frog
• salamander
• toad