litter

Definition

Straw, grass, and similar loose material used as bedding for people or animals.

Etymology

From Middle English litere, lytere, etc., from Anglo-Norman litere, litiere, etc., from Old French litiere (“bedding; bed of loose straw; litter”), from Late Latin lectuāria (“bedding; blankets”), from Latin lectus (“bed; couch”) + -āria (“forming related nouns”), from Proto-Italic *lektos (“[thing] lain upon”), from *leɣō (“to lie down”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-. Cognate with French lit and litière.

Example Sentences

• "Quen he had made me hale and fere"
• "As pelows ben to chambres agreable So is harde strawe lytter for the stable."
• "To place daily under those Animals... a sufficient quantity of fresh New Straw, well spread, which is call'd making of Litter."