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Webster 1913 Edition


Bittern

Bit′tern

,
Noun.
[OE.
bitoure
,
betore
,
bitter
, fr. F.
butor
; of unknown origin.]
(Zool.)
A wading bird of the genus
Botaurus
, allied to the herons, of various species.
☞ 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
Botaurus lentiginosus
, and is also called
stake-driver
and
meadow hen
. See
Stake-driver
.
The name is applied to other related birds, as the
least bittern
(
Ardetta exilis
), and the
sun bittern
.

Bit′tern

,
Noun.
[From
Bitter
,
Adj.
]
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Bittern

BIT'TERN

,
Noun.
A fowl of the grallic order, the Ardea stellaris, a native of Europe. This fowl has long legs and neck, and stalks among reeds and sedge, feeding upon fish. It makes a singular noise, called by Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming.

BIT'TERN

,
Noun.
[from bitter.] In salt works, the brine remaining after the salt is concreted. This being laded off,and the salt taken out of the pan, is returned, and being again boiled, yields more salt. It is used in the preparation of Epsom salt, the sulphate of magnesia, and of Glauber's salt, the sulphate of soda.

Definition 2024


bittern

bittern

English

Noun

bittern (plural bitterns)

  1. Several bird species in the Botaurinae subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae.
    • 1819, Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, Rip Van Winkle:
      It is a great rock or cliff on the loneliest part of the mountains, and, … is known by the name of the Garden Rock. Near the foot of it is a small lake, the haunt of the solitary bittern, with water-snakes basking in the sun on the leaves of the pond-lilies which lie on the surface.
Derived terms
Translations
See also

Etymology 2

From bitter with an unclear suffix, perhaps a dialect form of -ing.

Noun

bittern (uncountable)

  1. The liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine).
  2. (archaic) A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Cooley to this entry?)

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