nest egg

American  

noun

1. money saved and held in reserve for emergencies, retirement, etc.

2. a natural or artificial egg placed in a nest to induce a hen to continue laying eggs there.

---

nest egg British  

noun

1. a fund of money kept in reserve; savings

2. a natural or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay their eggs in it

---

Etymology

Origin of nest egg

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Let’s put that in perspective: If you have $1 million saved, healthcare costs alone could consume more than one-third of your entire nest egg.

From MarketWatch

Should we do the same for our nest eggs when conflict looms?

From The Wall Street Journal

A 40-year-old in 1980 who put a chunk of their nest egg into gold only would have broken even last year, two decades into retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We don’t have a lot of money. We don’t have a nest egg. We don’t own property. If we were going to do anything, we would need help.”

From Los Angeles Times

He wants his children to be prepared to access a nest egg he has cultivated for almost four decades now with his “business plan.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cache
• reserve fund
• savings
• savings account
• stash
• stockpile