Bus"tard (bŭs"t&etilde;rd), n. [OF. & Prov. F. bistarde, F. outarde, from L. avis tarda, lit., slow bird. Plin. 10, 22; "proximæ iis sunt, quas Hispania aves tardas appellat, Græcia 'wti`das."] (Zoöl.) A bird of the genus Otis.

&fist; The great or bearded bustard (Otis tarda) is the largest game bird in Europe. It inhabits the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, and was formerly common in Great Britain. The little bustard (O. tetrax) inhabits eastern Europe and Morocco. Many other species are known in Asia and Africa.

• Any of various large terrestrial birds of the family Otididae that inhabit dry open country and steppes in the Old World.