Plural of 'eft,' a small newt with a rough skin, especially the terrestrial stage of the common newt found in Europe and North America.
From Old English efete, possibly from imitative origins mimicking the creature's appearance. The word has remained remarkably stable in English for over a thousand years.
Efts are brilliant ecological teachers: the red eft (newt) spends years on land before returning to water, giving biologists a real-time look at how some amphibians navigate two completely different habitats.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.