nutria

[noo-tree-uh, nyoo-]

noun

the coypu.

the fur of the coypu, resembling beaver, used for making coats, hats, suit trimmings, etc.

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for nutria

For this, in inferior qualities, the hair of the otter, nutria or other fine fur was sometimes substituted.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 1|Various
Nutria is the commercial term for the fur of the South American coypou.
The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper|A. E. (Arno Erdman) Schmidt
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.
Argentina From A British Point Of View|Various
The tendency to build small detached houses noticed at Nutria and at Ojo Caliente has not manifested itself here.
A Study of Pueblo Architecture: Tusayan and Cibola|Victor Mindeleff and Cosmos Mindeleff

There are only occasional traces, as of a continuous defensive outer wall, such as those seen at Nutria and Pescado.
A Study of Pueblo Architecture: Tusayan and Cibola|Victor Mindeleff and Cosmos Mindeleff

British Dictionary definitions for nutria

nutria

noun

another name for the coypu, used esp to refer to its fur

a brown colour with a grey tinge

Word Origin for nutria

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

nutria

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