batrachian
English edit
Etymology edit
From New Latin Batrachia, former name of the zoological order Anura, from Ancient Greek βατράχεια (batrákheia), neuter plural of adjective from βάτραχος (bátrakhos, “frog”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
batrachian (plural batrachians)
- (rare) A frog or toad.
- 1976, Kyril Bonfiglioli, Something Nasty in the Woodshed, Penguin, published 2001, page 421:
- The warmth of his defence of the toad led me to suspect uneasily that a close search of his quarters would pretty certainly reveal a comfortable vivarium somewhere, bursting with the little batrachians.
Adjective edit
batrachian (comparative more batrachian, superlative most batrachian)
- Pertaining to or resembling a frog or toad.
- 1905, Eugene Field, Songs And Other Verses:
- Anon the minnow-bucket will emit '"batrachian"' sobs.
- 1939, Henry Miller, Tropic of Capricorn, Grove Press, published 1962, page 31:
- At this Lena smiled again with that mirthless batrachian grin.
- 1965, John Fowles, The Magus:
- His batrachian lips pursed into a smile, and he dug again into the honey.
- 2000 The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, "The Innsmouth Look"
- I dig her batrachian lips / Her bulbous eyes and scaly hips