aigrette
Americannoun
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a plume or tuft of feathers, especially the back plume of any of various herons, arranged as a head ornament.
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a jeweled ornament depicting or suggesting this, usually worn in the hair or on a hat.
noun
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a long plume worn on hats or as a headdress, esp one of long egret feathers
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an ornament or piece of jewellery in imitation of a plume of feathers
Etymology
Origin of aigrette
1635–45; < French, equivalent to aigr- (< Germanic; compare Old High German heiger heron) + -ette -ette. See egret, heron
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other intriguing pieces included Chaumet’s narrow diamond tiara with a central opal, with an upstanding aigrette of white feathers rising from sapphire branches.
From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2012
From his hat sprouted a white aigrette, round his neck hung the flashing gold chain of the Collar of the Annunziata, on his breast blazed medals.
From Time Magazine Archive
The oval, shapely head bore proudly a black shako topped with aigrette plumes.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ignoring the rain, the ladies seized a lifetime's chance and swept into each new party crowned with ostrich feathers, aigrette plumes, flowers and veiling.
From Time Magazine Archive
This, to whip the hat from his head, pluck the panache of ostrich feathers from its aigrette and insert those of the heron in their place.
From No Quarter! by Reid, Mayne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
