BITTERN


Meaning of BITTERN in English

I. ˈbi-tərn noun

Etymology: Middle English bitoure, from Anglo-French butor, from Vulgar Latin * butitaurus, from Latin buteo hawk + taurus bull

Date: 1515

: any of various small or medium-sized usually secretive herons (especially genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus )

II. noun

Etymology: irregular from bitter (I)

Date: 1682

: the bitter water solution of salts that remains after sodium chloride has crystallized out of a brine

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.