lutra

From Proto-Indo-European *udr-eh₂, the feminine noun of *udrós (“sea animal, otter”, literally “of water”). The l- was likely introduced by analogy of some other word, such as lavō (“to wash”), lūdō (“to play”), lupus (“wolf”) or lutum (“mud, dirt”). See § descendants notes for information on the Varro form with -y- and the medieval forms.