Lit″ter (lĭt″tẽr), n. [F. litière, LL. lectaria, fr. L. lectus couch, bed. See Lie to be prostrated, and cf. Coverlet.] 1. A bed or stretcher so arranged that a person, esp. a sick or wounded person, may be easily carried in or upon it.
There is a litter ready; lay him in 't. Shak.
2. Straw, hay, etc., scattered on a floor, as bedding for animals to rest on; also, a covering of straw for plants.
To crouch in litter of your stable planks. Shak.
Take off the litter from your kernel beds. Evelyn.
3. Things lying scattered about in a manner indicating slovenliness; scattered rubbish.
Strephon, who found the room was void.
Stole in, and took a strict survey
Of all the litter as it lay. Swift.
4. Disorder or untidiness resulting from scattered rubbish, or from thongs lying about uncared for; as, a room in a state of litter.
5. The young brought forth at one time, by a sow or other multiparous animal, taken collectively. Also Fig.
A wolf came to a sow, and very kindly offered to take care of her litter. D. Estrange.
Reflect upon that numerous litter of strange, senseless opinions that crawl about the world. South.