Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Lettuce \Let"tuce\ (l[e^]t"t[i^]s), n. [OE. letuce, prob.
through Old French from some Late Latin derivative of L.
lactuca lettuce, which, according to Varro, is fr. lac,
lactis, milk, on account of the milky white juice which flows
from it when it is cut: cf. F. laitue. Cf. {Lacteal},
{Lactucic}.] (Bot.)
A composite plant of the genus {Lactuca} ({L. sativa}), the
leaves of which are used as salad. Plants of this genus yield
a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The
commonest wild lettuce of the United States is {L.
Canadensis}.
{Hare's lettuce}, {Lamb's lettuce}. See under {Hare}, and
{Lamb}.
{Lettuce opium}. See {Lactucarium}.
{Sea lettuce}, certain papery green seaweeds of the genus
{Ulva}.
Otter \Ot"ter\, 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}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any carnivorous animal of the genus {Lutra},
and related genera. Several species are described. They
have large, flattish heads, short ears, and webbed toes.
They are aquatic, and feed on fish. Their fur is soft and
valuable. The common otter of Europe is {Lutra vulgaris};
the American otter is {L. Canadensis}; other species
inhabit South America and Asia.
2. (Zo["o]l.) The larva of the ghost moth. It is very
injurious to hop vines.
{Otter hound}, {Otter dog} (Zo["o]l.), a small breed of
hounds, used in England for hunting otters.
{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.