little egret

noun

See under egret(def 1).

Words nearby little egret

little corporal, little daedala, little diomede, little dipper, little dog, little egret, little end, little englander, little entrance, little falls, little finger

Definition for little egret (2 of 2)

egret
[ ee-grit, eg-rit, ee-gret, ee-gret ]
/ ˈi grɪt, ˈɛg rɪt, iˈgrɛt, ˈi grɛt /

noun

any of several usually white herons that grow long, graceful plumes during the breeding season, as Egretta garzetta (little egret), of the Old World.
aigrette.

Origin of egret

1400–50; late Middle English egret(e) < Anglo-French egret (compare Middle French égreste, aigrette), alteration (with -on exchanged for -et -et) of dialectal Old French aigron < Germanic; see heron

British Dictionary definitions for little egret

egret
/ (ˈiːɡrɪt) /

noun

any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta, Hydranassa, etc, that are similar to herons but usually have a white plumage and, in the breeding season, long feathery plumes: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes See also aigrette

Word Origin for egret

C15: from Old French aigrette, from Old Provençal aigreta, from aigron heron, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German heigaro heron