Bit·ter n.  Naut. AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.
 Bitter end, that part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when the ship rides at anchor.


 bitter end
      n 1: the final extremity (however unpleasant it may be); "he was
           determined to fight to the bitter end"
      2: (nautical) the inboard end of a line or cable especially the
         end that is wound around a bitt