Otter

n. [A-S. otor, oter, otyr, ottyr, Icel. otr, Dan. odder, Sw. utter, O. H. Ger. ottar, ottir, N. H. Ger. & D. otter, Lith. udra, Russ. & Pol. wydra.] (Zoöl.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Lutra, of which several species are described. They have large, flattish heads, short ears, webbed toes, crooked nails, and tails slightly flattened horizontally. They are aquatic, and feed on fish. The common otter of Europe is Lutra vulgaris; the American otter is Lutra Canadensis or L. mollis.

Otter-hound, a kind of hound sometimes employed in hunting the otter. P. Cyc.

n. The same as ANNOTTO, q. v. [Colloq.]