BITTERN

bittern

(noun) relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

bittern (plural bitterns)

Several bird species in the Botaurinae subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae.

Etymology 2

Noun

bittern (uncountable)

The liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine).

The saline substance added to soy milk to coagulate it as a primary step in the production of tofu.

(archaic) A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus indicus, etc, used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer.

Anagrams

• Bittner, Britten

Source: Wiktionary


Bit"tern, n. Etym: [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

Note: The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American bittern is B. lentiginosus, and is also called stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver.

Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern.

Bit"tern, n. Etym: [From Bitter, a.]

1. The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is concreted, having a bitter taste from the chloride of magnesium which it contains.

2. A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. Cooley.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 April 2024

SUBDUCTION

(noun) a geological process in which one edge of a crustal plate is forced sideways and downward into the mantle below another plate


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

coffee icon