海獺

Japanese

Kanji in this term
海	獺

Etymology 1

From Ainu ラッコ (rakko).

Alternative forms

• ラッコ, らっこ
• 猟虎
• 獺虎

Noun

海獺 (hiragana らっこ, romaji rakko)

1. sea otter

Etymology 2

Compound of 海 (umi, “sea”) +‎ 獺 (*uso, “otter”); see カワウソ (kawauso). Possibly from the superficial similarities between sea otters and (particularly young) sea lions.

Noun

海獺 (hiragana うみうそ, romaji umiuso)

海獺 (hiragana うみおそ, romaji umioso)

1. (archaic) sea lion

See also

• 海豹, アザラシ (azarashi): sea lion

Etymology 3

From Sinitic 海獺.

Noun

海獺 (hiragana かいたつ, romaji kaitatsu)

海獺 (hiragana かいだつ, romaji kaidatsu)

1. (the animal) a seal or sea lion

See also

• 海豹, アザラシ (azarashi): sea lion
• 海驢, 葦鹿, アシカ (ashika): seal