资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Bittern \Bit"tern\, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F.
butor; of unknown origin.] (Zo["o]l.)
A wading bird of the genus {Botaurus}, allied to the herons,
of various species.
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 {B. lentiginosus}, and is also called
{stake-driver} and {meadow hen}. See {Stake-driver}.
Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the
{least bittern} ({Ardetta exilis}), and the {sun
bittern}.
资料来源 : WordNet®
least bittern
n : small American bittern [syn: {Ixobrychus exilis}]