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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Bittern \Bit"tern\, n. [From {Bitter}, a.]
1. The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is
concreted, having a bitter taste from the chloride of
magnesium which it contains.
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2. A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc.,
used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. --Cooley.
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Bittern \Bit"tern\, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F.
butor; of unknown origin.] (Zool.)
A wading bird of the genus {Botaurus}, allied to the herons,
of various species.
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Note: The common European bittern is {Botaurus stellaris}. It
makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by
Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American
bittern is {Botaurus lentiginosus}, and is also called
{stake-driver} and {meadow hen}. See {Stake-driver}.
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Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the
{least bittern} ({Ardetta exilis}), and the {sun
bittern}.
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