noun
osprey
OSP-ray
noun
1
A large fish-eating bird of prey with a white underside and long, narrow wings, found on coastlines and near lakes worldwide.
"The osprey plunged feet-first into the river and came up gripping a trout."
"A pair of ospreys built their nest on top of the old telegraph pole."
2
An ornamental feather, especially one used in old-fashioned hat-making (an aigrette).
"Victorian milliners once prized ospreys for decorating fashionable hats."
How to Use Osprey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fish-hunting hawk-like bird found near water almost everywhere in the world.
Word Forms
ospreys plural
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Etymology
From Middle English ospray, via Anglo-Norman ospriet, ultimately from Medieval Latin avis praedae, "bird of prey" — a phrase that got mixed up in Old French with this particular bird.