Egret

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Egret \E"gret\, n. [See {Aigret}, {Heron}.]
     1. (Zo["o]l.) 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. --G. W.
                                                    Cable.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress,
        or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Bot.) The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or
        achenes, as the down of the thistle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of ape.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  egret
       n : any of various usually white herons having long plumes
           during breeding season