Pollywog: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ธ
pollywog
[ หpษliwษg ]
animal, amphibian
A pollywog, also known as a tadpole, is the larval stage of an amphibian, typically a frog or a toad. During this stage, they are aquatic and have a tail, no limbs, and gills to breathe underwater. As they develop, they undergo metamorphosis, during which they gradually grow legs and lose their tails, eventually becoming adult frogs or toads.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The pond is filled with pollywogs during the spring.
- The children enjoyed watching the pollywogs swim around.
- After a few weeks, the pollywogs began to grow legs.
- They studied the growth of pollywogs in science class.
Translations
Translations of the word "pollywog" in other languages:
๐ต๐น girino
๐ฎ๐ณ เคคเฅเคกเคผเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Kaulquappe
๐ฎ๐ฉ berudu
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟัะณะพะปะพะฒะพะบ
๐ต๐ฑ kijanka
๐ฏ๐ต ใชใฟใใธใฃใฏใท
๐ซ๐ท tรชtard
๐ช๐ธ renacuajo
๐น๐ท kurbaฤa yavrusu
๐ฐ๐ท ์ฌ์ฑ์ด
๐ธ๐ฆ ุถูุฏุน ุตุบูุฑ
๐จ๐ฟ pulci
๐ธ๐ฐ pรบzderko
๐จ๐ณ ่่ช
๐ธ๐ฎ metuljฤek
๐ฎ๐ธ plokkfiskur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฑะฐาะฐ ะฑะฐะปะฐัั
๐ฌ๐ช แแฃแแก แแแขแงแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ qurd
๐ฒ๐ฝ renacuajo
Etymology
The word 'pollywog' has a somewhat unclear origin, but it is believed to derive from the early 19th-century English dialect. Some etymologists suggest it is a combination of the word 'poll' or 'poul', which means 'head', reflecting the tadpole's round head, and the Old English 'wog', referring to a creature found in water. Other theories propose that it could be connected to similar-sounding terms in other languages. Notably, the term 'tadpole' has been used more commonly in modern language, but 'pollywog' has an endearing charm that has allowed it to persist in colloquial usage, particularly in the United States. While 'pollywog' may not be widely known, it invokes images of playful, juvenile amphibians in ponds, sparking curiosity about their lifecycle.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #42,576, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.