a. [f. AMPHIBIA + -OUS.]
1. Living both on land and in water. a. of animals.
[1609. B. Jonson, Silent Wom., I. iv. Captain Otter, sir;… he has had command both by sea and land…. O, then he is animal amphibium?]
1654. L’Estrange, Charles I., 87. The … Admiral … being scanted in Mariners … was enforced to take in two thousand two hundred land men, who should be amphibious, serving partly for sea-men, and partly for land-souldiers.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. (1729), 57. Guano’s … lay Eggs as most of those amphibious creatures do.
1735. Somerville, Chase, IV. 364. On him Th’ amphibious Otter feasts.
1833. Sir C. Bell, Hand (1834), 138. Buffon tried to make a dog amphibious.
b. of plants.
1716. Bradley, in Phil. Trans., XXIX. 486. Plants … are either Terrestrial, Amphibious, or Aquatick.
1813. C. Marshall, Gardening (ed. 5), 120. Wet places may be advantageously planted with the amphibious tribe as willow, sallow, withy, osier, &c.
2. Of, pertaining to, suited for, or connected with both land and water.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 138. Not only to swim in the water, but move upon the land, according to the amphibious and mixt intention of nature.
1663. Butler, Hudibr., I. i. 27. So some Rats of Amphibious Nature Are either for the Land or Water.
1713. C’tess Winchelsea, Misc. Poems, 246. The fatal Goodwin … that dangerous Sand, Amphibious in its kind, nor Sea nor Land.
1805. Wordsw., Prel., III. 69. A floating island, an amphibious spot.
3. Having two lives; occupying two positions; connected with or combining two classes, ranks, offices, qualities, etc.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med. (1656), I. § 34. We are onely that amphibious piece between a corporall and spirituall essence.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 435, ¶ 5. Such an Amphibious Dress [i.e., belonging to both sexes].
1750. Nugent, Montesquieu’s Spir. Laws, II. XXVIII. xxxix. 312. It formed an amphibious code, where the French and Roman laws were mixed.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., I. i. 24. An amphibious something … half of image, and half of abstract meaning.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., 178. I have considered this amphibious Pope.
