ottar (otar)

Same as attar. Otus of South America, Pteronura sandbachi. The fur of otters is valuable. One kind of it, from South America, is known as nutria. 2. The sea-otter. See Enhydris.—3. The larva of the ghost-moth, Epialus humuli, which is very destructive to hop-plantations.-4. A tackle flies, used for fishing below the surface in lakes and rivers. [U. S.]-5. A breed of sheep: same as ancon, 3.- Le er otter, a former name of the mink. otter2 (ot'er), me. A corruption of arnotto. otter3, n. Same as attar. otter-canoe (ot'ėr-ka-nö"), n. A boat used by the hunters of the sea-otter, on the western coast of North America. It is 15 feet long, nearly 5 feet wide, 18 inches deep, sharp at each end, with flaring sides, and but little sheer. It is an excellent sea-boat, and is especially adapted for landing through the surf. otter-dog (ot'er-dog), n. A variety of hound bred for or employed in the chase of the otter. otterdownt (ot'er-doun), n. [A corruption of eider - down, simulating otter.] Same as eider down. There are now to be sold for ready money only some duvets for bedcoverings of down beyond comparison, superior to what is called the otter down. Johnson, Idler, No. 4. otter-hound (ot'èr-hound), n . Same as otter - dog . otter-pike (ot'ér-pik), n. [Appar. a corruption adder - pike .] Same as adder - pike . tave. In musical staff-notation, al ottava or Spa, 'at the octave,' is prefixed above to a note or pa age which is to be performed an octave higher than it is written, the continuance of the direction being further indicated by a horizontal dotted line, and its end by the word loco, 'in place.' It is occasionally also prefixed below a note or pa age to be performed an octave lower than it is written. The former effect is also indicated by ottava alt a, and the latter by ottava ba a. In either case the inten lines. tion is simply to avoid the exce ive use of leger or added ottava rima (ot-tävä re'mä). [It., eighth or IMG:content-1933.jpg:[blocks in formation] the proper Italian meter, the heroic of eleven syllables. Byron employed it in his "Beppo" and "Don Juan," using lines of eleven or often of ten syllables. ottavino (ot-tä-vēnō), n. [It., see octave.] Same as piccolo. otter1 (ot'er), n. [ Canada Otter ( Lutra can a dens is ). der Feræ, family Mustelid a, and subfamily Lu trinæ. There are several genera, as Barangia (or Lep tonyx ), Aonyx, Lontra (or Saricovia ), Lutra proper, Hy drogale, and Pteronura. They all have large flattish heads, short ears, webbed toes, crooked nails, and tails slightly flattened horizontally. The common river-otter, the Lutra vulgar is of Europe, is a quadruped adapted to amphibious habits by its short, strong, flexible, palmated feet, which serve as oars to propel it through the water, and by its long and strong tail, which acts as a powerful rudder, and enables the animal to change its course with great ease and rapidity. It inhabits the banks of rivers, and feeds principally on fish. When its retreat is found, the otter instantly takes the water and dives, remaining a long time underneath it, and rising at a considerable distance from the place where it dived. The weight of a full-grown male is from 20 to 24 pounds, and its length is about 2 feet exclusive of the tail. In many parts of England, and especially in Wales, the otter is hunted with dogs trained for this purpose. The other species of Lutra proper, which are found in different parts of the world, do not differ greatly from the European otter. The American otter is a quite distinct species, Lutra ( La tax ) can a dens is. Some Asiatic otters with reduced claws constitute the genus Aonyx. There are South American otters, as Lutra bras i liens is and L. chi lens is. The most remarkable form is the winged-tailed or margin-tailed otter = Sp. Otomano = Pg. It. Ottomano, 'Othman, 'Osman, the founder of the Turkish empire in Asia: see Osmanli. Cf. Othman.] I. a. Pertaining to that branch of the Turks to which belong the founders and ruling cla of the Turkish or Ottoman empire. II. n. One of that branch of the Turks which founded and rule the Turkish empire. The Ot toman Turks lived originally in central Under their first sultan, Othman (reigned 1288-1326), they founded a realm in Asia Minor, which was soon extended into Europe. With the capture of Constantinople in 1453 they succeeded to the Byzantine empire, and their rule, at its height in the sixteenth century, extended over the greater part of southeastern Europe and much of western Asia and northern Africa. They have since lost Hungary, Rumania, Servia, Greece, etc., and practically Bulgaria, Egypt, etc. The Ottoman Turks are Sunnite Mohammedans, and regard the sultans as representatives of the former califs.