gannet
Americannoun
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gannets
plural
noun
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any of several heavily built marine birds of the genus Morus (or Sula ), having a long stout bill and typically white plumage with dark markings: family Sulidae, order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, etc) See also booby
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slang a gluttonous or greedy person
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gannet
before 900; Middle English; Old English ganot; akin to Dutch gent gander
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.
See Examples For:
Modern hunts require a licence from public agency NatureScot, which rejected the application this year due to concerns about the impact on the gannet population.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
It led to a fourfold increase in adult gannet deaths, resulting in a 26% decrease in the size of Bass Rock's colony and a 38% fall at Grassholm.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
The ban could also benefit two other endangered seabirds, the Cape gannet and Cape cormorant, that also rely on sardine and anchovy as their primary food source, Waller says.
From Science Magazine ● Aug. 17, 2023
Scuttle the boy seagull is now Scuttle the female gannet.
From Washington Times ● May 25, 2023
Patch pointed at a gannet flying up overhead, its neck reaching.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
Most people get upset and angry at the sight of gannets sitting on nests of nylon ropes, and whales drifting ashore with their stomachs full of plastic.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2024
The paper documented the population collapses in seabird communities around the world, from kittiwakes in the North Sea to murres in the Gulf of Alaska to gannets and penguins off the coast of Namibia.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2024
James Parkin, director of nature and tourism for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said local rangers have so far collected around 700 to 800 birds - mostly guillemots but also razorbills and gannets.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2023
Avian flu has decimated seabird populations around Scotland's coast, including gannets on Bass Rock and skuas in Shetland.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2023
He sat, watching the sea heaving between his hands, and hearing the wooden clatter of gannets on an island cliff.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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