- Ardea alba
- 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
