Skip to content

tadpole

noun

  1. larva of amphibians
L328985 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈtædpoʊl/

noun

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

  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. 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. A child's basic drawing of a human being, having a detailed head but only sticks for the body and limbs.
  5. A small child.

    Shouldn't you tadpoles be in bed?

  6. An insignificant person.

    Woman's voice: You impudent imp! You tadpole! You shrimp!

    “[H]ere's this Tooralooral tadpole of a Mayor shovin' his nose into the business and arrestin' our Puddin' without rhyme or reason.”