Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
little egret noun
- See under egret(def 1).
egret [ee-grit, eg-rit, ee-gret, ee-gret] 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 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 CiconiiformesSee 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 Word Origin and History for little egret egret n.
mid-14c., from Old French aigrette, from Old Provençal aigreta, diminutive of aigron “heron,” perhaps of Germanic origin (cf. Old High German heigaro; see heron).