Tadpole
Pronunciation : Tad"pole`
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. tadde toad (AS. tadie, tadige) + poll; properly, a toad that is or seems all head. See Toad, and Poll.]
Definition : 1. (Zo?l.)
Defn: The young aquatic larva of any amphibian. In this stage it breathes by means of external or internal gills, is at first destitute of legs, and has a finlike tail. Called also polliwig, polliwog, porwiggle, or purwiggy.
2. (Zo?l.)
Defn: The hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.] Tadpole fish. (Zo?l.) See Forkbeard (a).
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913