newt

Where does the word "newt" come from? It comes from Old English efete, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Newt’s story begins in Old English: efete meant “newt.” A lizard-like amphibian; the older form survives as 'eft'. It reached English by 1400s as newt. The opposite of 'apron': 'an ewte' was heard as 'a newte', so the word gained an n. Today, newt means a small amphibian with a long tail that lives partly in water.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval efete "newt", a lizard-like amphibian; the older form survives as 'eft'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s newt "small amphibian", the opposite of 'apron': 'an ewte' was heard as 'a newte', so the word gained an n.