Oyster

ois′tėr, n. a well-known bivalve shellfish, used as food.— ns. Oys′ter-bank , -bed , -farm , -field , -park , a place where oysters breed or are bred; Oys′ter-catch′er , the sea pie—a sea wading bird of the family Hæmatopodidæ, having dark plumage and red bill and feet; Oys′ter-fish′ery , the busine of catching oysters; Oys′ter-knife , a knife for opening oysters.— n.pl. Oys′ter-pat′ties , small pies or pasties made from oysters.— n. Oys′ter-shell , the shell of an oyster.— n.pl. Oys′ter-tongs , a tool used to dredge up oysters in deep water.— ns. Oys′ter-wench , -wife , -wom′an , a woman who vends oysters. [O. Fr. oistre (Fr. huître )—L. ostrea —Gr. ostreon , an oyster— osteon , a bone.]