Wiktionary

tadpole

English

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Frog tadpoles
 
Salamander tadpole

Etymology

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From Middle English tadpolle, taddepol, equivalent to toad +‎ poll (“head”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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tadpole (plural tadpoles)

  1. A young toad or frog in its larval stage of development that lives in water, has a tail and no legs, and, like a fish, breathes through gills.
  2. (by extension) The aquatic larva of any amphibian.
    salamander tadpole
  3. A type of cargo bike that has two wheels in front and one in back.
  4. (psychology) A child's basic drawing of a human being, having a detailed head but only sticks for the body and limbs.
  5. (informal) A small child.
    • 1970, Dorothy Clarke Wilson, Lone Woman, page 174:
      Shouldn't you tadpoles be in bed?
  6. (informal, derogatory) An insignificant person.
    • 1900 August 4, The Geelong Advertiser, Victoria, page 6, column 7:
      Woman's voice: You impudent imp! You tadpole! You shrimp!
    • 1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, page 142:
      “[H]ere's this Tooralooral tadpole of a Mayor shovin' his nose into the business and arrestin' our Puddin' without rhyme or reason.”

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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