egret

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

noun

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

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Origin of egret

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

Words nearby egret

egr valve, egregious, egress, egression, egressive, egret, egypt, egypt., egyptiac, egyptian, egyptian calendar
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Example sentences from the Web for egret

British Dictionary definitions for egret

egret
/ (ˈiːɡrɪt) /

noun

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 CiconiiformesSee also aigrette

Word Origin for egret

C15: from Old French aigrette, from Old Provençal aigreta, from aigron heron, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German heigaro heron
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012