Bitter end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.

Bitter
(Bit"ter) a. [AS. biter; akin to Goth. baitrs, Icel. bitr, Dan., Sw., D., & G. bitter, OS. bittar, fr. root of E. bite. See Bite, v. t.]

1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.

2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.

3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant.

It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.
Jer. ii. 19.

4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col. iii. 19.

5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable.

The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage.
Ex. i. 14.

Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth. — Bitter cress(Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. C. amara. — Bitter earth(Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia. — Bitter principles(Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply defined chemical characteristics. — Bitter salt, Epsom salts; magnesium sulphate. — Bitter vetch(Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia. — To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous.

Syn. — Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe; acrimonious.

Bitter
(Bit"ter) n. Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.

Bitter
(Bit"ter), v. t. To make bitter. Wolcott.

Bitterbump
(Bit"ter*bump`) n. (Zoöl.) the butterbump or bittern.

Bitterful
(Bit"ter*ful) a. Full of bitterness. [Obs.]

Bittering
(Bit"ter*ing), n. A bitter compound used in adulterating beer; bittern.

Bitterish
(Bit"ter*ish), a. Somewhat bitter. Goldsmith.

Bitterling
(Bit"ter*ling) n. [G.] (Zoöl.) A roachlike European fish (Rhodima amarus).

Bitterly
(Bit"ter*ly), adv. In a bitter manner.

Bittern
(Bit"tern) n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.] (Zoöl.) A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

Bitten
(Bit"ten) a. (Bot.) Terminating abruptly, as if bitten off; premorse.

Bitter
(Bit"ter) n. [See Bitts.] (Naut.) AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.

  By PanEris using Melati.

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