egret

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: e=gret

CIDE DICTIONARY

egret, n. [See Aigret, Heron.].

•  The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret (Ardea egretta syn. Herodias egretta); the great egret (Ardea alba); the little egret (Ardea garzetta), of Europe; and the American snowy egret (Ardea candidissima).  [1913 Webster]

  "A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage."  [1913 Webster]
•  A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.  [1913 Webster]
•  The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, as the down of the thistle.  [1913 Webster]
•  A kind of ape.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

egret, n. any of various herons of the genus Egretta or Bulbulcus, usu. having long white feathers in the breeding season.

Etymology

ME, var. of AIGRETTE