GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Litter , n. [F. litière, LL. lectaria, fr. L. lectus couch, bed. See Lie to be prostrated, and cf. Coverlet.]
   A bed or stretcher so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily carried in or upon it.
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   There is a litter ready; lay him in 't.
   Shak.
   
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   Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to rest on; also, a covering of straw for plants.
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   To crouch in litter of your stable planks.
   Shak.
   
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   Take off the litter from your kernel beds.
   Evelyn.
   
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   Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness; scattered rubbish.
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   Strephon, who found the room was void.
   Stole in, and took a strict survey
   Of all the litter as it lay.
   Swift.
   
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   Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from thongs lying about uncared for; as, a room in a state of litter.
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   The young brought forth at one time, by a cat, dog, sow or other multiparous animal, taken collectively. Also Fig.
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   A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her litter.
   D. Estrange.
   
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   Reflect upon that numerous litter of strange, senseless opinions that crawl about the world.
   South.
   
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2.       
   Litter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Littered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Littering.]
   To supply with litter, as cattle; to cover with litter, as the floor of a stall.
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   Tell them how they litter their jades.
   Bp. Hackett.
   
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   For his ease, well littered was the floor.
   Dryden.
   
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   To put into a confused or disordered condition; to strew with scattered articles; as, to litter a room.
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   The room with volumes littered round.
   Swift.
   
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   To give birth to; to bear; -- said of brutes, esp. those which produce more than one at a birth, and also of human beings, in abhorrence or contempt.
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   We might conceive that dogs were created blind, because we observe they were littered so with us.
   Sir T. Browne.
   
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   The son that she did litter here,
   A freckled whelp hagborn.
   Shak.
   
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3.       
   Litter , v. i.
   To be supplied with litter as bedding; to sleep or make one's bed in litter. [R.]
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   The inn
   Where he and his horse littered.
   Habington.
   
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   To produce a litter.
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   A desert . . . where the she-wolf still littered.
   Macaulay.
   
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