egret

[ee-grit, eg-rit, ee-gret, ee-gret]

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.

egret

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of egret¹

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; heron

Word History and Origins

Origin of egret¹

C15: from Old French aigrette, from Old Provençal aigreta, from aigron heron, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German heigaro _heron

Example Sentences

He said a snowy egret swooped down and looked like it was going to dive for my head, then decided not to.

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Along the River Otter Mr Burgess tells me the beavers have created wetlands that now host species such as great white egrets and kingfishers.

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Larsen, who describes himself as a birder, said he enjoyed spotting a great egret in the river.

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What makes it special: ”The nature walk is really pretty and borders a wildlife sanctuary where you can see egrets and other migratory birds.

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You’ll see egrets and herons in the tidal wetlands of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps even snowy plovers nestling in the dunes or pecking for insects in the wet sand.

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