Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Litter
Lit′ter
(lĭt′tẽr)
, Noun.
1.
A bed or stretcher so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily carried in or upon it.
There is a
litter
ready; lay him in ’t. Shakespeare
2.
Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to rest on; also, a covering of straw for plants.
To crouch in
litter
of your stable planks. Shakespeare
Take off the
litter
from your kernel beds. Evelyn.
3.
Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness; scattered rubbish.
Strephon, who found the room was void.
Stole in, and took a strict survey
Of all the
Stole in, and took a strict survey
Of all the
litter
as it lay. Swift.
4.
Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from thongs lying about uncared for;
as, a room in a state of
. litter
5.
The young brought forth at one time, by a cat, dog, sow or other multiparous animal, taken collectively. Also Fig.
A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her
litter
. D. Estrange.
Reflect upon that numerous
litter
of strange, senseless opinions that crawl about the world. South.
Lit′ter
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Littered
(lĭt′tẽrd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Littering
.] 1.
To supply with litter, as cattle; to cover with litter, as the floor of a stall.
Tell them how they
litter
their jades. Bp. Hackett.
For his ease, well
littered
was the floor. Dryden.
2.
To put into a confused or disordered condition; to strew with scattered articles;
as, to
. litter
a roomThe room with volumes
littered
round. Swift.
3.
To give birth to; to bear; – said of brutes, esp. those which produce more than one at a birth, and also of human beings, in abhorrence or contempt.
We might conceive that dogs were created blind, because we observe they were
littered
so with us. Sir T. Browne.
The son that she did
A freckled whelp hagborn.
litter
here,A freckled whelp hagborn.
Shakespeare
Lit′ter
(lĭt′tẽr)
, Verb.
I.
1.
To be supplied with litter as bedding; to sleep or make one's bed in litter.
[R.]
The inn
Where he and his horse
Where he and his horse
littered
. Habington.
2.
To produce a litter.
A desert . . . where the she-wolf still
littered
. Macaulay.
Webster 1828 Edition
Litter
LIT'TER
,Noun.
1.
A vehicle formed with shafts supporting a bed between them, in which a person may be borne by men or by a horse. If by the latter, it is called a horse-litter. A similar vehicle in India is called a palanquin.2.
Straw, hay or other soft substance, used as a bed for horses and for other purposes.3.
A brood of young pigs, kittens, puppies or other quadrupeds. The word is applied only to certain quadrupeds of the smaller kinds. 4.
A birth of pigs or other small animals.5.
Waste matters, shreds, fragments and the like, scattered on a floor or other clean place.LIT'TER
,Verb.
T.
1.
To bring forth young, as swine and other small quadrupeds. It is sometimes applied to human beings in contempt.2.
To scatter over carelessly with shreds, fragments and the like; as, to litter a room or a carpet.3.
To cover with straw or hay; as, to litter a stable.4.
To supply with litter; as to litter cattle.