Oys'ter, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. oistre, N. Fr. huître, Pr., Sp., & Pg. ostra, It. ostrica, Lat. ostrea, ostreum, Gr. ὄστρεον, allied to ὀστέον, bone, and named from its hardness; A-S. ostre, D. oester, Dan. öster, Sw. & Icel. ostra, O. H. Ger. aostar, O. Ger. uster, N. H. Ger. auster.] (Zoöl.) A mollusk of the genus Ostrea, having a bivalve shell, usually found on gravel or sand, or adhering to rocks or other fixed substances in salt water which is shallow, or in the mouths of rivers. O. edulis, to which, in popular language, the name is especially and almost exclusively applied, is the common species, extensively used for food.

Oyster catcher (Ornith.), a bird of the genus Hæmatopus (H. ostralegus), which subsists upon shell-fish. It is a native of the north of Europe.—Oyster dredge, a small drag-net for bringing up oysters from the bottom of the sea.—Oyster patty, a pasty or patty made with oysters, and baked. Simmonds.

An American oyster catcher runs along the shore with its wings partly spread. — American Oyster Catcher (*Hæmatopus ostralegus).