robber frog
- noun
- /ˈrɑːbər frɔg/
- Specialized
:
rana ladrón
- The robber frog is commonly found hiding beneath leaf litter in rainforests.
Examples
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Unlike tree frogs, robber frogs tend to live entirely on the forest floor.
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Scientists have discovered a new species of robber frog in Central America.
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The robber frog is known for its unique appearance.
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Have you ever seen a robber frog in the wild?
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Researchers have observed the robber frog camouflaged among the leaves of the rainforest.
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The robber frog is often found near streams, where it hunts for insects.
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In Central America, the robber frog thrives in humid environments rich with vegetation.
Synonyms
383
1.0
A tailless animal with long back legs that lives near water and jumps
1
3.9
A small young frog often liked by children
A group of small land frogs from the Americas often called robber frogs
Surface Forms
Morphology
robber + frog
The phrase clearly denotes a kind of frog (so a learner who knows 'frog' will infer it refers to a frog), but the specific sense signalled by 'robber' (why the frog is labelled as a 'robber' or its bark-like call and regional identity) is not predictable from the constituents. Thus the compound is partly compositional (type of frog) but the informative meaning is metaphorical/arbitrary and would likely require prior exposure.
Etymology
Robber frog may come from the way these small frogs move quietly through leaf litter, like a robber 'sneaking' at night. So the image of a sneaky robber and a frog explains why people use this name for ground-dwelling frogs.