bittern

¹ American  

[bit-ern] / ˈbɪt ərn /

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.

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bittern ² American  

[bit-ern] / ˈbɪt ərn /

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.

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bittern ¹ British  

/ 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

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bittern ² British  

/ 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

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Etymology

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

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 • Feb. 18, 2024

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

From Scientific American • Dec. 9, 2022

Unlike other birds, the male bittern does not use its voice box but muscles around his windpipe to expand his entire gullet into an echo chamber.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2022

Amongst the first class are capercailzie, … wild duck, and bittern; and amongst the shy ones with camouflaged eggs are lapwing, … ring plover, and golden plover.

From Nature • Aug. 5, 2019

A booming bittern I know sits hour after hour, almost every day in summer, year after year, on a dark, decaying pile of an old dock in the creek.

From Birds Every Child Should Know by Blanchan, Neltje