Lexic.us

Definition of Bitter end

1. Noun. The final extremity (however unpleasant it may be). "He was determined to fight to the bitter end"

2. Noun. (nautical) the inboard end of a line or cable especially the end that is wound around a bitt.

Definition of Bitter end

1. Noun. (nautical) that part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains inboard when a ship is riding at anchor ¹

2. Noun. (idiomatic) The end of a long and difficult process. ¹

3. Noun. (nautical) the final six fathoms of anchor chain before the point of attachment in the chain locker of modern U.S.naval vessels, with these six fathoms often painted blue, white and red to warn deck hands of the end of available anchor chain. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Bitter End

bitte bitted bitten bitten-to-the-quick bitter bitter-bark bitter almond bitter almond oil bitter aloes bitter apple

bitter betch bitter chocolate bitter cress bitter dock bitter end (current term) bitter ends bitter floom bitter hickory bitter lemon bitter melon

bitter melons bitter orange bitter orange peel bitter orange peel oil bitter orange tree bitter pea bitter pecan bitter peptides bitter pignut

Literary usage of Bitter end

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Notes and Queries by Martim de Albuquerque (1881)
"“ The bitter end “ is clearly an old nautical expression, dating long prior to the modern use of the phrase. Bailey's Dictionary, 1721, has “ Bite,” a turn ..."

2. Our Wild Indians: Thirty-three Years Personal Experience Among the Red Men by Richard Irving Dodge (1884)
"... Bands — Four Days' of Su Bering — Sticking it Out to the bitter end — Recognition and Reward — Rushing in at the Eleventh Hour — Carrying off the Prize. ..."

3. The New York Times Current History (1915)
"Fight to the bitter end AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW CARNEGIE. Retired Ironmaster and philanthropist ; builder of the Peace Temple at The Hague ; founder of the ..."

4. English Actors from Shakespeare to Macready by Henry Barton Baker (1879)
"... Meeting — Farewell to the Stage — A Prince's Love — Forsaken — A bitter end. , thy name is woman !" would be an . appropriate motto for these romances. ..."

5. Handy-book of Literary Curiosities by William Shepard Walsh (1892)
"When a chain or rope is paid out to the bitter end, no more remains to be let go. It seems, therefore, that the phrase "to the bitter end" was ..."

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