egret

American  

[ee-grit, eg-rit, ee-gret, ee-gret] / ˈi grɪt, ˈɛg rɪt, iˈgrɛt, ˈi grɛt /

noun

1. any of several usually white herons that grow long, graceful plumes during the breeding season, as Egretta garzetta little egret, of the Old World.

2. aigrette.

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egret British  

/ ˈiːɡrɪt /

noun

1. any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta, Hydranassa, etc, that are similar to herons but usually have a white plumage and, in the breeding season, long feathery plumes: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes See also aigrette

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Etymology

Origin of egret

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English egret(e), from Anglo-French egret (compare Middle French égreste aigrette ), alteration (with -on exchanged for -et -et ) of dialectal Old French aigron, from Germanic; see heron

Explanation

An egret is a white bird with long legs, usually found wading along marshy shorelines. Egrets are expert fishers and sometimes even use sticks and insects to draw fish closer before gobbling them up. Egret comes from the French aigrette, which means "silver heron" and also "brush," which describes the plumes of white feathers that appear on an egret's back during the breeding season. These birds, many of which are bright white, are a type of heron. They hunt for fish in both freshwater and saltwater, wading through the shallows on their long legs.

Example Sentences

Egret feathers commanded double their weight in gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The aircraft clipped the roofs of two houses and hit the side of a home on Egret Court in the Bayview Terrace neighborhood about a minute after takeoff from John Wayne Airport.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2019

Egret feathers cost more per ounce than gold.

From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2019

The child of William the Conqueror and John James Audubon would publish the Victorious Egret catalogue.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2017

Probably Henty never so much enjoyed release from his workshop study as when he could get on board his yacht, the Egret.

From George Alfred Henty The Story of an Active Life by Fenn, George Manville