BITTERN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bittern mean? 

• BITTERN (noun)
  The noun BITTERN has 1 sense:

1. relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes

  Familiarity information: BITTERN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BITTERN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relatively small compact tawny-brown heron with nocturnal habits and a booming cry; found in marshes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("bittern" is a kind of...):

heron (grey or white wading bird with long neck and long legs and (usually) long bill)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bittern"):

American bittern; Botaurus lentiginosus; stake driver; Botaurus stellaris; European bittern (a kind of bittern)

Ixobrychus exilis; least bittern (small American bittern)

 Context examples 

One of them carried a young bittern which they had caught upon the moor, and they offered it to Alleyne for a silver groat.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a common sound in those parts—as common as the chatter of the jays and the booming of the bittern.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)