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tadpole

The definition of a tadpole is the young stage of an amphibian, it lives in water, has a tail and breaths through gills.

(noun)

An example of a tadpole is the stage a toad is in before it gets legs and lungs for breathing outside of the water.

See tadpole in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the larva of certain amphibians, as frogs and toads, having gills and a tail and living in water: as it matures, the gills usually are lost and legs develop
the free-swimming larval stage of tunicates, having gill slits and a notochord

Origin: ME taddepol < tadde, toad + poll, head, hence, toad that seems all head

See tadpole in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The limbless aquatic larva of a frog or toad, having gills and a long flat tail. As the tadpole approaches the adult stage, legs and lungs develop, and the tail gradually disappears. Also called polliwog.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English taddepol

Origin: : tadde, tode, toad; see toad

Origin: + pol, head; see poll

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