| toad | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of batrachians belonging to the genus Bufo and allied genera, especially those of the family Bufonidae. Toads are generally terrestrial in their habits except during the breeding season, when they seek the water. most of the species burrow beneath the earth in the daytime and come forth to feed on insects at night. Most toads have a rough, warty skin in which are glands that secrete an acrid fluid. The common toad (Bufo vulgaris) and the natterjack are familiar European species. The common American toad (B. Lentiginosus) is similar to the European toad, but is less warty and is more active, moving chiefly by leaping. Obstetrical toad. <obstetrics> A horned toad. <botany> Toad pipe See Tree. Origin: OE. Tode, tade, AS. Tadie, tadige; of unknown origin. Cf. Tadpole. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| toad skin | A follicular hyperkeratotic eruption thought to be due to deficiency of vitamin A. Synonym: toad skin. Origin: G. Phrynos, toad, + derma, skin (05 Mar 2000) |
| toadeater | A fawning, obsequious parasite; a mean sycophant; a flatterer; a toady. "You had nearly imposed upon me, but you have lost your labour. You're too zealous a toadeater, and betray yourself." (Dickens) Origin: Said to be so called in allusion to an old alleged practice among mountebanks' boys of eating toads (popularly supposed to be poisonous), in order that their masters might have an opportunity of pretending to effect a cure. The French equivalent expression is un avaleur de couleuvres. Cf. Toady. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toadfish | <zoology> Any marine fish of the genus Batrachus, having a large, thick head and a wide mouth, and bearing some resemblance to a toad. The American species (Batrachus tau) is very common in shallow water. Synonym: oyster fish, and sapo. The angler. A swellfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toadflax | <botany> An herb (Linaria vulgaris) of the Figwort family, having narrow leaves and showy orange and yellow flowers. Synonym: butter and eggs, flaxweed, and ramsted. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toadhead | <zoology> The golden plover. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toadstone | 1. <chemical> A local name for the igneous rocks of Derbyshire, England; said by some to be derived from the German todter stein, meaning dead stone, that is, stone which contains no ores. 2. Bufonite, formerly regarded as a precious stone, and worn as a jewel. See Bufonite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toadstool | <botany> A name given to many umbrella-shaped fungi, mostly of the genus Agaricus. The species are almost numberless. They grow on decaying organic matter. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| toady | Origin: Shortened from toadeater. 1. A mean flatterer; a toadeater; a sycophant. "Before I had been standing at the window five minutes, they somehow conveyed to me that they were all toadies and humbugs." (Dickens) 2. A coarse, rustic woman. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sea toad | <zoology> A sculpin. A toadfish. The angler. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| surinam toad | <zoology> A species of toad native of Surinam. See Pipa. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |