Where does “otter” come from?
Otter comes from Old English otor, from Proto-West Germanic ot(t)r, from Proto-Germanic utraz, from Proto-Indo-European udrós, derived from the root wed- meaning water.
otter (English): An aquatic or marine carnivorous mammal in the...
Definitions
- An aquatic or marine carnivorous mammal in the...
Ancestry of “otter”, step by step
otter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English oter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | oter | An otter; The hide, skin or pelt of an otter |
| 2 | Old English | otor | otter |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | utraz | otter |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | udrós | of water, aquatic |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wed- | water |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |
via English annotto
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | annotto | Alternative form of annatto |