critter

critter pronunciation

/KRIT-ur/

Meaning

Rural shorthand for any living creature: coon under the porch, mule in the lot, bug on the screen. Southern and Appalachian talk also hangs it on people and kids when somebody's being funny or fond ("poor little critter"). It lands softer than beast and warmer than animal.

How folks use it

• “Some critter got into the chicken feed last night.”
• “Look at that wet critter — bring the dog a towel.”

Origin and etymology

Dialect pronunciation of creature, written down by the early 1800s. Backcountry Southern speech kept the clipped form, and it grew into its own word for animals, livestock, and sometimes people.

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