- Enter a word for the dictionary definition. From The
Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48: Otter
\Ot"ter\ ([o^]t"t[~e]r), n. [OE. oter, AS. otor; akin to D. & G.
otter, Icel. otr, Dan. odder, Sw. utter, Lith. udra, Russ,
vuidra, Gr. "y`dra water serpent, hydra, Skr. udra otter, and
also to E. water. [root]137, 215. See Water, and cf. Hydra.]
[1913 Webster] 1. (Zool.) Any carnivorous animal of the genera
Lutra, Enhydra, and related genera of the family Mustelidae.
Several species are described. They have large, flattish heads,
short ears, and webbed toes. They are aquatic, and feed on fish.
The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) also eats clams, crabs, starfish,
abalone, and other marine animals; they may come to the surface,
and lying on their backs using the stomach as a table, may be
seen cracking open the shell of its prey with a rock. The common
otter of Europe is Lutra vulgaris; the North American otter (or
American otter) is Lutra Canadensis, which inhabits marshes,
streams and rivers; oth