ETYM Old Eng. ewt, evete, AS. efete, with n prefixed, an ewt being understood as a newt. Related to Eft.
Small usually bright-colored semiaquatic salamanders of North America and Europe and North Asia; SYN. triton.
/> Small salamander, of the family Salamandridae, found in Eurasia, NW Africa, and North America. The European newts, such as the smooth newt Triturus vulgaris, live on land for part of the year but enter a pond or lake to breed in the spring.
The red-spotted newt Notophthalmus viridescens of E North America, about 9 cm/3.5 in long, is olive green with red spots when adult. The young, called red efts, are bright orange and are terrestrial.