Oyster bed

Oyster bed
Oyster Oys"ter (ois"t[~e]r), n. [OF. oistre, F. hu[^i]tre, L. ostrea, ostreum, Gr. 'o`streon; prob. akin to 'ostre`on bone, the oyster being so named from its shell. Cf. {Osseous}, {Ostracize}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any marine bivalve mollusk of the genus Ostrea. They are usually found adhering to rocks or other fixed objects in shallow water along the seacoasts, or in brackish water in the mouth of rivers. The common European oyster ({Ostrea edulis}), and the American oyster ({Ostrea Virginiana}), are the most important species. [1913 Webster]

2. A name popularly given to the delicate morsel contained in a small cavity of the bone on each side of the lower part of the back of a fowl. [1913 Webster]

{Fresh-water oyster} (Zo["o]l.), any species of the genus {Etheria}, and allied genera, found in rivers of Africa and South America. They are irregular in form, and attach themselves to rocks like oysters, but they have a pearly interior, and are allied to the fresh-water mussels.

{Oyster bed}, a breeding place for oysters; a place in a tidal river or other water on or near the seashore, where oysters are deposited to grow and fatten for market. See 1st {Scalp}, n.

{Oyster catcher} (Zo["o]l.), See {oystercatcher} in the vocabulary.

{Oyster crab} (Zo["o]l.) a small crab ({Pinnotheres ostreum}) which lives as a commensal in the gill cavity of the oyster.

{Oyster dredge}, a rake or small dragnet for bringing up oysters from the bottom of the sea.

{Oyster fish}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The tautog. (b) The toadfish.

{Oyster plant}. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus {Tragopogon} ({Tragopogon porrifolius}), the root of which, when cooked, somewhat resembles the oyster in taste; salsify; -- called also {vegetable oyster}. (b) A plant found on the seacoast of Northern Europe, America and Asia ({Mertensia maritima}), the fresh leaves of which have a strong flavor of oysters.

{Oyster plover}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {oystercatcher}.

{Oyster shell} (Zo["o]l.), the shell of an oyster.

{Oyster wench}, {Oyster wife}, {Oyster women}, a women who deals in oysters.

{Pearl oyster}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Pearl}.

{Thorny oyster} (Zo["o]l.), any spiny marine shell of the genus {Spondylus}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • oyster bed — oyster beds N COUNT An oyster bed is a place where oysters breed and grow naturally or are kept for food or pearls …   English dictionary

  • oyster bed — n an area at the bottom of the sea where oysters live …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • oyster bed — oyster ,bed noun count an area at the bottom of the ocean where there are a lot of oysters …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • oyster bed — n. a place on the ocean floor naturally suited to, or artificially prepared for, the breeding of oysters …   English World dictionary

  • oyster bed — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms oyster bed : singular oyster bed plural oyster beds an area at the bottom of the sea where there are a lot of oysters …   English dictionary

  • oyster bed — noun a workplace where oysters are bred and grown • Syn: ↑oyster bank, ↑oyster park • Hypernyms: ↑workplace, ↑work * * * noun, pl ⋯ beds [count] : a place in the ocean where oysters grow …   Useful english dictionary

  • oyster bed — area in the ocean floor where oysters breed naturally or are raised; oyster bank …   English contemporary dictionary

  • oyster bed — oys′ter bed n. a place where oysters breed or are cultivated …   From formal English to slang

  • oyster bed — /ˈɔɪstə bɛd/ (say oystuh bed) noun a place where oysters breed or are cultivated …  

  • oyster bed — noun Date: 1591 a place where oysters grow or are cultivated …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”