newt
English
A male smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)
Etymology
From Middle English newte, newete, a form resulting from an incorrect division (a process known as rebracketing) of Middle English an ewte as a newte (for similar misdivisions compare adder, nickname, apron, umpire, etc.). Middle English evete, eute, euete, ewte (“newt”), derives from Old English efete (“lizard; newt”). Doublet of eft.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnjuːt/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˈn(j)ut/
- (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈnjʉːt/
- Rhymes: -uːt
Noun
newt (plural newts)
- A small lizard-like amphibian in the family Salamandridae that lives in the water as an adult.
Synonyms
- ask/askard (dialectal)
- eft (usually refers to the terrestrial phase of a newt)
- salamander
Derived terms
Translations
type of salamander
|
See also
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.