oy ['ȯi] -interj

  1. used esp. to express exasperation or dismay
    • oy, what a mess

oy·er and ter·mi·ner [,ȯi-ər-ən(d)-'tər-mə-nər] -n

  1. a commission authorizing a British judge to hear and determine a criminal case at the assizes
  2. a high criminal court in some U.S. states

oyez [ō-'yez, -'yā, -'yes, 'ō-,] -vb imper

  1. used by a court or public crier to gain attention before a proclamation
  2. a cry of oyez

oys·ter ['ȯis-tər] -n

  1. any of various marine bivalve mollusks (family Ostreidae) that have a rough irregular shell closed by a single adductor muscle and include commercially important shellfish
  2. any of various mollusks resembling or related to the oysters
  3. something that is or can be readily made to serve one's personal ends
    • the world was her oyster
  4. a small mass of muscle contained in a concavity of the pelvic bone on each side of the back of a fowl
  5. an extremely taciturn person
  6. a grayish-white color

oyster bed -n

  1. a place where oysters grow or are cultivated

oys·ter·catch·er [-,ka-chər, -,ke-] -n

  1. any of a family (Haematopodidae containing a single genus Haematopus) of wading birds that have stout legs, a heavy wedge-shaped bill, and often black-and-white plumage

oyster crab -n

  1. a tiny crab ( Pinnotheres ostreum) that lives as a commensal in the gill cavity of the oyster

oyster cracker -n

  1. a small salted usu. round cracker

oyster drill -n

  1. drill

oys·ter·ing ['ȯis-t(ə-)riŋ] -n

  1. the act or business of taking oysters for the market or for food

oys·ter·man ['ȯis-tər-mən] -n

  1. one who gathers, opens, breeds, or sells oysters

oyster mushroom -n

  1. an edible mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus) that grows esp. on deciduous trees and deadwood

oyster plant -n

  1. salsify

oysters Rocke·fel·ler [-'rä-ki-,fe-lər] -n pl

  1. a dish of oysters on the half shell cooked with various savory toppings typically including chopped spinach and a seasoned sauce