noun
newt
NOOT/nuːt/
A small salamander that often lives in water as an adult.
The newt rests beside the pool with four short legs and a flattened tail.
Etymology
Middle English ewte already named the animal: “an ewte” was redivided as “a newt,” absorbing part of the article into the noun. The animal name’s deeper origin is unknown.
In context
soon the nearby twigs are festooned with translucent packets of eggs little newt tadpoles will emerge from these come summer
More examples
- We spotted two newts in the pond.
- The newt hides beneath a damp log.
- This newt has a bright orange belly.
Forms
newt · newts
Similar words
- salamander
- A broader term that includes newts and other similar amphibians.
- eft
- Specifically a young newt during its land-dwelling stage.