osprey

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English

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An osprey.
An osprey in flight.

Etymology

From Late Middle English ospray, from Anglo-Norman ospriet, from Medieval Latin avis prede (bird of prey), a generic term apparently confused with this specific bird in Old French on its similarity to ossifrage.

Pronunciation

Noun

osprey (plural ospreys)

  1. A bird of prey (Pandion haliaetus) that feeds on fish and has white underparts and long, narrow wings each ending in four finger-like extensions.
    • 1594, George Peele (attributed), The Battle of Alcazar
      I will provide thee of a princely osprey.
    • 1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: , London: Tho Cotes, for Iohn Waterson;  , published 1634, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
      But (oh Jove!) your actions, / Soon as they move, as ospreys do the fish, / Subdue before they touch.
    • 2023 August 24, Mairead Sheehy, “'Like finding long-lost treasure': Ospreys breed in Ireland for first time in 200 years”, in Irish Examiner:
      A pair of ospreys bred at a confidential nesting site in Co. Fermanagh in what has been described as like finding long-lost treasure.
  2. Aigrette (ornamental feather).

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