BITTERN


Meaning of BITTERN in English

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.

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

Concise Oxford English dictionary.      Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка.