bittern

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bit=tern

CIDE DICTIONARY

bittern, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.].

 A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.  [1913 Webster]
" 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."  [1913 Webster]
"The name is applied to other related birds, as the least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern."  [1913 Webster]

bittern, n. [From Bitter, a.].

•  The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is concreted, having a bitter taste from the chloride of magnesium which it contains.  [1913 Webster]
•  A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer.  Cooley.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bittern, n.
1 any of a group of wading birds of the heron family, esp. of the genus Botaurus with a distinctive booming call.
2 Chem. the liquid remaining after the crystallization of common salt from sea water.

Etymology

ME f. OF butor ult. f. L butio bittern + taurus bull; - n perh. f. assoc. with HERON