newt

[noot, nyoot]

noun

1. any of several brilliantly colored salamanders of the family Salamandridae, especially those of the genera Triturus and Notophthalmus, of North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

2. any of various other small salamanders.

newt

/ njuːt /

noun

1. any of various small semiaquatic urodele amphibians, such as Triturus vulgaris ( common newt ) of Europe, having a long slender body and tail and short feeble legs

2. any other urodele amphibian, including the salamanders

Word History and Origins

Origin of newt¹

1375–1425; late Middle English newte, for ewte (the phrase an ewte being taken as a newte; nickname ), variant of evet, Old English efete eft ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of newt¹

C15: from a newt, a mistaken division of an ewt; ewt, from Old English eveta _eft ¹

Example Sentences

It is held on a Site of Special Scientific Interest at the Waen Rhydd bog, which is home to protected species like newts, frogs, various plants and the odd otter.

From BBC

Workers planted 285,000 trees to mitigate its significant environmental impact and creatures including bats, dormice and great crested newts have also been moved.

From BBC

Creatures including bats, dormice and great crested newts have also been moved.

From BBC

As night falls over the water, Alpine newts begin their silent hunt.

From BBC

Creatures, including bats, dormice and great crested newts, have also been moved.

From BBC

Related Words

• frog 
• salamander 
• toad