bittern
a bittern
a kind of bird – a wading bird (= walks in shallow water, do not swim); with a short neck, stout body; size: large kinds – 2-3 feet (75 cm) and small kinds – 1.5 feet (35 cm); usually brown feathers and long legs; feeds (eats) on insects, fish, frog and small reptiles; about 12 species (kinds) found near marshy areas and reed beds all over the world
female ~~ hen (?)
baby ~~ chick
group ~~ sedge, siege
voice (call) ~~ boom(?)
a bittern or a bunch of reeds
These birds are very difficult to see in their surrounds because of the colour of their feathers and the way they stand still with their beak (bill) pointing to sky, and sometimes sway (move gently from side to side) like a reed or blade of grass.
The male bird makes a booming or deep hollow sound which, at night, frightens the people.
1.
like a butterbump, foot longer than leg [said of someone or something which is not in proper measurements, or in proper way] (‘butterbump’ = bittern)
2.
cannot tell a bitterbump from a gill-hooter [said of someone who cannot make any difference between two thing] (‘bitterbump’ = bittern; ‘gill-hooter’ = owl)
3.
to roar like a bittern at a seg-root [said of a noisy expression of extremely helpless anger] (‘seg-root’ = sedge root = a kind of grass plant)
4.
a bittern makes no hawk [said of someone who is not fit or suitable for the position or praise]
a bitterling — a fish
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