otter

Etymology 1

From Middle English oter, otir, otur, otyre, from Old English otor, from Proto-West Germanic *ot(t)r, from Proto-Germanic *utraz, from Proto-Indo-European *udrós (“aquatic, water-animal”), from Proto-Indo-European *wed- (“water”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Otter, Dutch otter, German Otter, Swedish utter, Norwegian oter, Icelandic otur, Sanskrit उद्र (udrá), Russian вы́дра (výdra), and Ancient Greek ὕδρα (húdra, “water snake”). More etymology under English water.

noun

1. An aquatic or marine carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, polecats, badgers, and others.
2. (gay slang) A hairy man with a slender physique, in contrast with a bear, who is more thickset.

Etymology 2

Corruption of annotto.

noun

1. (obsolete) annatto (dye)

Etymology 3

noun

1. Archaic form of attar.
   […] the precious perfume called otter of roses. 1809, William Jones, A Grammar of the Persian Language, page 8