tadpole

Etymology

From Middle English tadpolle, taddepol, equivalent to toad + poll (“head”).

noun

1. A young toad or frog in its larval stage of development that lives in water, has a tail and no legs, and, like a fish, breathes through gills.
2. (by extension) The aquatic larva of any amphibian.
   salamander tadpole
3. A type of cargo bike that has two wheels in front and one in back.
4. (psychology) A child's basic drawing of a human being, having a detailed head but only sticks for the body and limbs.
5. (informal) A small child.
   Shouldn't you tadpoles be in bed? 1970, Dorothy Clarke Wilson, Lone Woman, page 174
6. (informal, derogatory) An insignificant person.
   Woman's voice: You impudent imp! You tadpole! You shrimp! 4 Aug 1900, The Geelong Advertiser, Victoria, page 6, column 7
   “[H]ere's this Tooralooral tadpole of a Mayor shovin' his nose into the business and arrestin' our Puddin' without rhyme or reason.” 1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, page 142