bittern

¹

[ bit-ern ]

noun

1. any of several tawny brown herons that inhabit reedy marshes, as Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern, of North America, and B. stellaris, of Europe.
2. any of several small herons of the genus Ixobrychus, as I. exilis least bittern, of temperate and tropical North and South America.

bittern

²

[ bit-ern ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a bitter solution remaining in salt making after the salt has crystallized out of seawater or brine, used as a source of bromides, iodides, and certain other salts.

bittern

¹

/ ˈbɪtən /

noun

1. the bitter liquid remaining after common salt has been crystallized out of sea water: a source of magnesium, bromine, and iodine compounds

bittern

²

/ ˈbɪtən /

noun

1. any wading bird of the genera Ixobrychus and Botaurus , related and similar to the herons but with shorter legs and neck, a stouter body, and a booming call: family Ardeidae , order Ciconiiformes

Word History and Origins

Origin of bittern¹

1510–20; bitter, bittor bittern + -n (perhaps by association with heron ), Middle English bito ( u ) r, butur, boto ( u ) r < Anglo-French bytore, Anglo-French, Old French butor < Vulgar Latin *būtitaurus, equivalent to *būti-, perhaps to be identified with Latin būteō a species of hawk ( buteo ) + Latin taurus bull (cited by Pliny as a name for a bird emitting a bellowing sound)

Origin of bittern²

1675–85; variant of bittering; bitter, -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bittern¹

C17: variant of bittering ; see bitter

Origin of bittern²

C14: from Old French butor , perhaps from Latin būtiō bittern + taurus bull; referring to its cry

Example Sentences

Without golf balls whizzing overhead, the land has become habitat for migratory shorebirds, among them black-necked stilts, greater yellowlegs and sandpipers, and has even drawn the secretive American bittern.

From Seattle Times

"Nature is in drastic decline all around us. It's a dire situation, but can still be turned around. We know this because we've seen the population of the once-endangered bittern rise dramatically, the recovery of the fen raft spider and water voles successfully reintroduced to areas from where they had previously been lost," he said.

From BBC

Likewise, the inclusion of local communities was key to the Australasian bittern, a type of bird, moving from endangered to vulnerable.

From Scientific American

"We hope that one day the boom of the bittern will be heard around the UK once more."

From BBC

Britain's loudest bird, the "booming" bittern, is making a recovery after almost disappearing from the UK twice.

From BBC