Polliwig

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Polliwig \Pol"li*wig\, Polliwog \Pol"li*wog\, n. [OE. polwigle.
     Cf. {Poll} head, and {Wiggle}.] (Zool.)
     A tadpole; -- called also {purwiggy} and {porwigle}.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Tadpole \Tad"pole`\, n. [OE. tadde toad (AS. t[=a]die,
     t[=a]dige) + poll; properly, a toad that is or seems all
     head. See {Toad}, and {Poll}.]
     1. (Zool.) The young aquatic larva of any amphibian. In this
        stage it breathes by means of external or internal gills,
        is at first destitute of legs, and has a finlike tail.
        Called also {polliwig}, {polliwog}, {porwiggle}, or
        {purwiggy}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The hooded merganser. [Local, U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Tadpole fish}. (Zool.) See {Forkbeard}
        (a) .
            [1913 Webster]