Otter sheep

Otter sheep
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. (Zo["o]l.) 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; other species inhabit South America and Asia. The North American otter adult is about three to four feet long (including the tail) and weighs from 10 to 30 pounds; the sea otter is commonly four feet long and 45 pounds (female) or 60 pounds (male). Their fur is soft and valuable, and in the nineteenth century they were hunted extensively. The sea otter was hunted to near extinction by 1900, and is now protected. Fewer than 3,000 sea otters are believed to live along the central California coast. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. (Zo["o]l.) The larva of the ghost moth. It is very injurious to hop vines. [1913 Webster]

{Otter hound}, {Otter dog} (Zo["o]l.), a small breed of hounds, used in England for hunting otters; see {otterhound} .

{Otter sheep}. See {Ancon sheep}, under {Ancon}.

{Otter shell} (Zo["o]l.), very large bivalve mollusk ({Schizoth[ae]rus Nuttallii}) found on the northwest coast of America. It is excellent food, and is extensively used by the Indians.

{Sea otter}. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • otter sheep — noun : ancon sheep …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Otter dog — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Otter hound — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Otter shell — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • North American otter — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sea otter — 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • otter breed — Ancon An con ([a^][ng] k[o^]m), n.; L. pl. {Ancones}. [L., fr. Gr. agkw n the bent arm, elbow; any hook or bend.] (Anat.) The olecranon, or the elbow. [1913 Webster] {Ancon sheep} (Zo[ o]l.), a breed of sheep with short crooked legs and long back …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • List of sheep breeds — This is a list of domestic sheep breeds. Domestic sheep ( Ovis aries ) are partially derived from mouflon ( Ovis orientalis ) stock, and have diverged sufficiently to be considered a different species.Comprehensive list of domestic sheep breeds… …   Wikipedia

  • River Otter — Infobox River river name = River Otter image size = caption = The tidal estuary of the Otter. The river flows left to right, in front of the distinctive hill. The marsh (foreground) is separated from the sea by a steep pebble bar (right). origin …   Wikipedia

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