Forms: 1 efeta, -e, 2–4 euete, 2–7 evete, 4 auete, 4–6 ewt(e, (5 eefte, 6 ewft, euit), 6–8 euet, (8 eff, 9 dial. effet, evvet), 7– eft. See also NEWT. [OE. efeta, of unknown origin. The form NEWT (a newt corruptly for an ewt) is more frequent in literary use, and in some dialects has superseded the older form.]
A small lizard or lizard-like animal. Now (like NEWT) chiefly applied to the Greater Water-Newt (Triton cristatus) and to the Smooth Newt (Lophinus punctatus), of the order Salamandridæ.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 122. Lacerta uel stilio, efete.
a. 1100. Voc. ibid. 321. Lacerta, efeta.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 273, in Cott. Hom., 177. Þeor beð naddren and snaken, eueten and frude.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 6126. Evetis, and snakes, and paddokes brode.
1388. Wyclif, Prov. xxx. 28. An euete enforsith with hondis, and dwelleth in the housis of kingis.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxix. (Tollem. MS.). Venimouse bestes and auetes [1535 lisardes].
c. 1400. Maundev., v. 61. In that Abbeye ne entrethe not no Flye ne Todes ne Ewtes.
1480. Caxton, Descr. Brit., 48. Eeftes that doon none harme.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 52 b. [The Cameleon] beyng like to ye Ewte in the bodye.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 315. All things that breede in the mudde are not Euets.
1613. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. ii. May never euet, nor the toade, Within thy banks make their abode.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 251. The two Animals somewhat like Evets or Newts, but as big as Ratts.
1750. W. Ellis, Mod. Husbandman, III. ii. 79 (E. D. S.). Eff, an eft.
1763. Churchill, Proph. Fam., Poems I. 112. In quest of food, Efts strove in vain to crawl.
1800. Hurdis, Fav. Village, 153. Wriggles the viper and the basking eft.
1875. Parish, Sussex Gloss., Effet, a newt or eft.
1876. A. B. Buckley, Short Hist. Nat. Sc., xxiv. 201. Aquatic salamanders, which resemble our newts or efts.
1878. Besant & Rice, Celia’s Arbour, I. xiv. 195. We used to hunt as boys for … the little evvet, the alligator of Great Britain.
