otter

¹ American  

[ot-er] / ˈɒt ər /

noun

plural

otters,

plural

otter

1. any of several aquatic, furbearing, weasellike mammals of the genus Lutra and related genera, having webbed feet and a long, slightly flattened tail.

2. the fur of an otter.

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Otter ² American  

[ot-er] / ˈɒt ər /

noun

1. (in theVolsunga Saga ) a son of Hreidmar, who assumed the form of an otter when fishing, and who was killed by Loki while in that form.

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otter British  

/ ˈɒtə /

noun

1. any freshwater carnivorous musteline mammal of the subfamily Lutrinae, esp Lutra lutra ( Eurasian otter ), typically having smooth fur, a streamlined body, and webbed feet

2. the fur of any of these animals

3. Also called: otter board.  a type of fishing tackle consisting of a weighted board to which hooked and baited lines are attached

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verb

1. to fish using an otter

Etymology

Origin of otter

before 900; Middle English otter, oter, Old English otor, ottor; cognate with Dutch, German otter; compare Greek hýdra water serpent ( see hydra), Sanskrit udra- otter; akin to water

Explanation

Otters are mammals that live in and near the water. If you're lucky enough to see a group of these animals together, you can refer to them as a "romp of otters." In North America, otters can be found in parts of the Pacific Ocean and in rivers all across the continent. But otters aren't as common as they once were — many otter species are considered endangered today: they were hunted for their fur when settlers first came to North America, and since then they have been threatened by pollution and climate change. The root of the word otter, appropriately enough, means "water creature."

Example Sentences

Vets had to be called out to help capture an otter after it staged a daring daylight "break-in" at a garden centre in the south of Scotland.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Researchers say the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in California elephant seals has spread to other marine mammals, including a sea otter and sea lion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

But if an otter were doomed to distant petdom, there could be few better homes than the remote bay where Mijbil was free to come and go.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Researchers are now trying to determine how this interaction affects wolf behavior and whether it influences sea otter recovery.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

Sea otter cannot swim when they are first born, and have to hold on to their mother.

From "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell