bister

noun

bis·​ter ˈbi-stər How to pronounce bister (audio)
variants or bistre
1
: a yellowish-brown to dark brown pigment used in art
2
: a grayish to yellowish brown
bistered
ˈbi-stərd How to pronounce bister (audio)
adjective

Word History

Etymology

French bistre

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bister was in 1728

Rhymes for bister

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Browse Nearby Words

bistatic
bister
bister green
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Cite this Entry

“Bister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bister. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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