litter

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
litter/ˈlɪtə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 rubbish left in public.

  ■ a collection of things lying about untidily.

• 2 a number of young born to an animal at one time.

• 3 (also cat litter) granular absorbent material lining a tray for a cat to urinate and defecate in indoors.

• 4 straw or other plant matter used as animal bedding.

• 5 (also leaf litter) decomposing leaves and other matter forming a layer on top of soil.

• 6 historical a vehicle containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains and carried by men or animals.

  ■ a framework with a couch for transporting the sick.

▶verb

• 1 make untidy with litter.

  ■ leave (rubbish or objects) lying about untidily.

• 2 archaic provide (an animal) with litter as bedding.

– origin ME (in sense 6): from OFr. litiere, from med. L. lectaria, from L. lectus ‘bed’.