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Nearby words
leaseman, leash, leash law, leasing, least, least bittern, least common denominator, least common multiple, least flycatcher, least killifish, least of all
Origin of least bittern
An Americanism dating back to 1805–15
Definition for least bittern (2 of 2)
bittern
1[ bit-ern ]
/ ˈbɪt ərn /
noun
any of several tawny brown herons that inhabit reedy marshes, as Botaurus lentiginosus (American bittern), of North America, and B. stellaris, of Europe.
any of several small herons of the genus Ixobrychus, as I. exilis (least bittern), of temperate and tropical North and South America.
Origin of bittern
11510–20; 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 (see buteo) + Latin taurus bull (cited by Pliny as a name for a bird emitting a bellowing sound)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for least bittern (1 of 2)
bittern
1/ (ˈbɪtən) /
noun
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 Origin for bittern
C14: from Old French butor, perhaps from Latin būtiō bittern + taurus bull; referring to its cry
British Dictionary definitions for least bittern (2 of 2)
bittern
2/ (ˈbɪtən) /
noun
the bitter liquid remaining after common salt has been crystallized out of sea water: a source of magnesium, bromine, and iodine compounds
Word Origin for bittern
C17: variant of bittering; see bitter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for least bittern
bittern
heron-like bird, 13c., botor, from Old French butor "bittern," perhaps from Gallo-Romance *butitaurus, from Latin butionem "bittern" + taurus "bull" (see steer (n.)); according to Pliny, so called because of its booming voice, but this seems fanciful. Modern form from 1510s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper