newt

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

newt, n. [OE. ewt, evete, AS. efete, with n prefixed, an ewt being understood as a newt. Cf. Eft.].

 Any one of several species of small aquatic salamanders. The common British species are the crested newt (Triton cristatus) and the smooth newt (Lophinus punctatus). In America, Diemictylus viridescens is one of the most abundant species.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

newt, n. any of various small amphibians, esp. of the genus Triturus, having a well-developed tail.

Etymology

ME f. ewt, with n from an (cf. NICKNAME): var. of evet EFT