tadpole
nounUS /ˈtædpoʊl/
Etymology From Middle English tadpolle, taddepol, equivalent to toad + poll (“head”).
1
A young toad or frog in its larval stage of development that lives in water, has a tail and no legs, and, like a fish, breathes through gills.
2
Broadly The aquatic larva of any amphibian.
- salamander tadpole
3
A type of cargo bike that has two wheels in front and one in back.
4
Human sciences, Psychology, Sciences A child's basic drawing of a human being, having a detailed head but only sticks for the body and limbs.
5
Informal A small child.
- Shouldn't you tadpoles be in bed?1970, Dorothy Clarke Wilson, Lone Woman, page 174:
6
Derogatory, Informal An insignificant person.
- Woman's voice: You impudent imp! You tadpole! You shrimp!1900 August 4, The Geelong Advertiser, Victoria, page 6, column 7:
- “[H]ere's this Tooralooral tadpole of a Mayor shovin' his nose into the business and arrestin' our Puddin' without rhyme or reason.”1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, page 142:
- Synonyms
- polliwog, porriwiggle
- Derived terms
- frogpole, Tadfool, tadpole goby, tadpolehood, tadpolelike, tadpole operator, tadpole person, tadpole physa, tadpole shrimp, tadpole tea, tadpolish, tadpolism, toadpole