Definitions for: Oyster


[n] marine mollusks having a rough irregular shell; found on the sea bed mostly in coastal waters
[n] a small muscle on each side of the back of a fowl
[n] edible body of any of numerous oysters
[v] gather oysters, dig oysters



Webster (1913) Definition: Oys"ter, 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.

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.

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.), any one of several species of
wading birds of the genus H[ae]matopus, which frequent
seashores and feed upon shellfish. The European species
(H. ostralegus), the common American species ({H.
palliatus}), and the California, or black, oyster catcher
(H. Bachmani) are the best known.

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 of bringing up
oyster 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 (T. 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 Oyster catcher, above.


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.

Synonyms: huitre

See Also: Anomia ephippium, bird, bivalve, blue point, blue point, bluepoint, bluepoint, capiz, collect, family Ostreidae, fowl, garner, gather, helping, huitre, Japanese oyster, lamellibranch, Ostrea gigas, Ostreidae, oyster, oyster, oysters Rockefeller, pearl oyster, pelecypod, Pinctada margaritifera, Placuna placenta, portion, pull together, saddle oyster, seed oyster, serving, shellfish, Virginia oyster, window oyster, windowpane oyster

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