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newt

/ˈnjuːt/ noun

In Latin: stelliō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about newt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Small usually bright-colored semiaquatic salamanders of North America and Europe and northern Asia.

Origin

From Middle English newte, newete, from rebracketing of Middle English an ewte as a newte (for similar misdivisions compare adder, nickname, apron, umpire, etc.). Middle English evete, eute, euete, ewte (“newt”), derives from Old English efete (“lizard; newt”). Doublet of eft.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)