bittern
1 of 2noun (1)
bit·tern ˈbi-tərn 
: any of various small or medium-sized, short-necked, usually secretive herons (especially genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus)
bittern
2 of 2noun (2)
: the bitter water solution of salts that remains after sodium chloride has crystallized out of a brine
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English bitoure, from Anglo-French butor, from Vulgar Latin *butitaurus, from Latin buteo hawk + taurus bull
Noun (2)
irregular from bitter entry 1
First Known Use
Noun (1)
circa 1530, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1682, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
bittern
noun
bit·tern ˈbi-tərn
: a brownish marsh bird which has a loud booming cry