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nutria

[noo-tree-uh, nyoo-]
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noun
  1. the coypu.
  2. the fur of the coypu, resembling beaver, used for making coats, hats, suit trimmings, etc.
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Origin of nutria

1810–20, Americanism; < Spanish: otter, variant of lutria < Medieval Latin, for Latin lutra
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for nutria

Historical Examples

  • The fur of the rabbit and nutria are used in the manufacture of felt hats.

    A Civic Biology

    George William Hunter

  • Nutria is the commercial term for the fur of the South American coypou.

    The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper

    A. E. (Arno Erdman) Schmidt

  • Nutria, nū′tri-a, n. the fur of the coypou, a South American beaver.

  • A nutria appeared and some friendly dogs, and we heard of tame foxes and diminutive ponies to be seen next day.

  • It was during this part of our day's journey that the peons made two captures of live animals in an armadillo and a nutria.

British Dictionary definitions for nutria

nutria

noun
  1. another name for the coypu, used esp to refer to its fur
  2. a brown colour with a grey tinge
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Word Origin

C19: from Spanish: otter, variant of lutria, ultimately from Latin lūtra otter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nutria

n.

1836, from Spanish nutria "otter," also lutria, from Latin lutra (see otter).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper