What exactly is a "critter"?

By John Welford

@indexer (4852)

Leicester, England

August 23, 2019 9:42am CST

Americans seem to be fond of using the word "critter", which as far as I know is not used anywhere else in the world. Is this simply another way of saying "creature", which would imply that it means any living creature that is not a plant, or does it mean "animal", thus excluding birds, insects, and anything else without four legs? This is merely curiosity on my part!

6 people like this

5 responses

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

23 Aug 19

I guess I am one of the culprits who uses "critter" a lot. I suppose I could say "creature" just the same, but it doesn't sound as cute

. I might say yard critters, flying critters, furry critters . . . heck I've even called children "critters"

.

2 people like this

@xFiacre (14784)

• Ireland

23 Aug 19

@indexer No, no. There is nothing ‘mere’ about this. Here we say ‘Creator’ pronounced crater, referring to absolutely everything that might move.

1 person likes this

@kareng (80243)

• United States

23 Aug 19

It is used more from people in the country. City folks would not use it. It conforms to lifestyle of those that live in the country.

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (69176)

• Centralia, Washington

23 Aug 19

I wish Ellie Mae was here to step up and set you right.

@Janet357 (75638)

•

23 Aug 19

i use this word too which means small creatures.