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Bittern vs Cittern - What's the difference?

bittern | cittern |

As nouns the difference between bittern and cittern

is that bittern is several bird species in the botaurinae subfamily of the heron family ardeidae or bittern can be the liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine) while cittern is (musical instrument) a stringed instrument similar to a mandolin which is an early form of guitar.

bittern

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) butor, from .

Noun

(en noun)
  • Several bird species in the Botaurinae subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae.
  • *
    • Derived terms
    * , Zonerodius heliosylus * , Botaurus stellaris * , Botaurus poiciloptilus * American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus * , Botaurus pinnatus * , Ixobrychus involucris * , Ixobrychus exilis * little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus * * , Ixobrychus sinensis * , Ixobrychus eurhythmus * , Ixobrychus cinnamomeus * , Ixobrychus sturmii * , Dupetor flavicollis
    See also
    * ("bittern" on Wikipedia) * * * bumble

    Etymology 2

    From bitter with an unclear suffix, perhaps a dialect form of .

    Noun

    (-)
  • The liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine).
  • (archaic) A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus indicus, etc., used by fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer.
    • (Cooley)

    Anagrams

    *

    cittern

    English

    (wikipedia cittern)

    Alternative forms

    * cither * zittern

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (musical instrument) A stringed instrument similar to a mandolin which is an early form of guitar.
  • * 1661 January 17, ,
    • This discourse took us much time, till it was time to go to bed; but we being merry, we bade my Lady goodnight, and intended to have gone to the Post-house to drink, and hear a pretty girl play of the cittern (and indeed we should have lain there, but by a mistake we did not), but it was late, and we could not hear her, and the guard came to examine what we were; so we returned to our Inn and to bed, the page and I in one bed, and the two captains in another, all in one chamber, where we had very good mirth with our most abominable lodging.
  • * 1911', '' ,
    • The cittern consisted of a pear-shaped body similar to that of the lute but with a flat back and sound-board joined by ribs. The neck was provided with a fretted fingerboard; the head was curved and surmounted by a grotesque head of a woman or of an animal.
  • * 1911 , ,
    • The advent of the Spanish guitar in England led to the wane in the popularity of the cittern , also known at that time in contradistinction as the English or wire-strung guitar, although the two instruments differed in many particulars.
  • * 2000 , Musical Instruments Museum, Visitor's Guide , page 93,
    • Antwerp was world-famous for its harpsichords, but it was also a centre, in the 16th century, where citterns , lutes, viols and later violins were constructed with skill.