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- a large marshbird of the heron family, which is typically smaller than a heron, with brown streaked plumage. The larger kinds are noted for the deep booming call of the male in the breeding season.麻。
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- Genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus, family Ardeidae: several species, especially the Eurasian bittern (B. stellaris) and the American bittern (B. lentiginosus).麻属及苇属, 鹭科:数种, 尤指大麻(拉丁名B. stellaris)及美洲麻(拉丁名B. lentiginosus)。
词源
late Middle English bitore, from Old French butor, based on Latin butio 'bittern' + taurus 'bull' (because of its call). The -n was added in the 16th cent., perhaps by association with hern, obsolete variant of HERON.