Otter shell

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. {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 shell — noun also otter shell clam or otter s shell : any of several bivalve mollusks of the genus Lutraria that resemble those of the genus Mya but have shells which are more porcelaneous * * * otter shell noun A marine bivalve mollusc (genus Lutraria)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • otter-shell clam — noun see otter shell …   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 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • otter's shell — noun see otter shell …   Useful english dictionary

  • Otter mound — Perserve Otter Mound Location Marco Island, Florida Coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Otter Creek Township, Greenwood County, Kansas — Otter Creek Township   Township   Location in Greenwood County …   Wikipedia

  • 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

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