bittern (redirected from Bitterns)

bit·tern ¹  (btrn)

n.

Any of several wading birds of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus, having mottled brownish plumage and a deep booming cry in the male.

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[Alteration (perhaps influenced by tern) of Middle English bitour, from Old French butor, possibly from Vulgar Latin *buti-taurus : Latin bti, buzzard + Latin taurus, bull (after its cry); see tauro- in Indo-European roots.]

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bit·tern ²  (btrn)

n.

The bitter water solution of bromides, magnesium, and calcium salts remaining after sodium chloride is crystallized out of seawater.

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[From bitter.]

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bittern

Noun

a large wading marsh bird with a booming call [Old French butor]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

bittern - relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes heron - grey or white wading bird with long neck and long legs and (usually) long bill American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus, stake driver - a kind of bittern Botaurus stellaris, European bittern - a kind of bittern Ixobrychus exilis, least bittern - small American bittern