Talk:bittern

Etymology

Why is "taurus" (bull) part of the etymology if this is a bird, not a mammal? Is it because this bird sits on the backs of bulls? 24.29.238.60 09:28, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

That would be an unusual thing for a bittern to do; they are quite reclusive. The OED describes the bull derivation as "fanciful", though it still has quite a bit of currency among major dictionaries (including the MW3, to which our current etymology bears, ahem, a suspicious resemblance). If there is anything to it, it is probably from Pliny, who used tauros to refer to birds is probably in reference to the fact that these birds can make bull-like noises. -- Visviva 10:23, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

IMO taurus is completely unnecessary; the Latin butio(nem) seems like a a sufficient etymon for butor all by itself. -- Visviva 10:29, 14 January 2009 (UTC)