Oyster plant

Oyster plant
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.

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  • Oyster Plant — is a common name used for various flowering plants, including: Tragopogon porrifolius (also called Purple Salsify) Mertensia maritima Tradescantia discolor Synonyms: Tradescantia spathacea, Rhoeo spathacea, Rhoeo discolor. Family: Commelinaceae… …   Wikipedia

  • oyster plant — ☆ oyster plant n. SALSIFY …   English World dictionary

  • oyster plant — Goat s beard Goat s beard, goatsbeard goatsbeard . (Bot.), A weedy European annual with yellow flowers, of the genus {Tragopogon}; so named from the long silky beard of the seeds. One species is the {salsify} or {oyster plant}; it is naturalized… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oyster plant — noun 1. edible root of the salsify plant • Syn: ↑salsify • Hypernyms: ↑root • Part Holonyms: ↑salsify, ↑vegetable oyster, ↑Tragopogon porrifolius 2. Mediterranean b …   Useful english dictionary

  • oyster plant — /ˈɔɪstə plænt/ (say oystuh plant) noun the salsify, whose root tastes like oyster …  

  • oyster plant — noun 1》 another term for salsify. 2》 a blue flowered thick leaved creeping plant of the borage family, growing chiefly on stony beaches in northern Europe. [Mertensia maritima.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • oyster plant — oys′ter plant n. pln salsify • Etymology: 1815–25, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • oyster plant — noun Date: 1821 salsify …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • oyster plant — 1. salsify. 2. See sea lungwort. 3. Moses in the cradle. [1815 25, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • oyster-plant — n. Salsify …   New dictionary of synonyms

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