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egret
egret , common name for several species of herons of the Old and New Worlds, belonging to the family Ardeidae. Before they were protected by law the birds were nearly exterminated by hunters seeking their beautiful, white, silky plumage called aigrettes, used in millinery. These feathers develop during the breeding season. In the American egret the plumes are straight, about 21 in. (52.5 cm) long, growing on the back. The smaller snowy egret, or snowy heron ( Leucophoyx thula ), the most beautiful and most hunted, has curved plumes on the back, head, and breast. The reddish egret ( Dichromanassa rufa ) is white part of the year, changing to grayish with brown head and neck. The greater and lesser egrets are European species. Egrets are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Herodiones, family Ardeidae. |
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"egret." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "egret." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-egret.html "egret." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-egret.html |
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egret
egret [Old Provençal aigreta]. The long-legged wading bird (genera Bubulcus, Casmerodius, Leucophoyx) with characteristic long white tail-feathers played an important role in Celtic iconography as early as the Urnfield period (c.800 BC), although not in later vernacular traditions. Three symbolic egrets appear in a temple of the Gaulish god Esus. From earliest times egrets are portrayed with bulls, probably reflecting the habit of the birds in life of perching on the back of the animal to eat its lice. In iconography they are also associated with the willow tree, as befits a bird that forages in marshes. Often egret, bull, and willow appear in combination. The egret may sometimes be confused with the crane. ModIr. éigrit; Manx coar vane; W crychydd, crëyr; Bret. kribell-blu.
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "egret." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "egret." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-egret.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "egret." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-egret.html |
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egret
egret White heron of temperate and tropical marshy regions. It is known for its plumes. Egrets are long-legged, long-necked, slender-bodied, wading birds with dagger-like bills. They feed on small animals and nest in colonies. Height: 50–100cm (20–40in). Family Ardeidae; genus Egretta.
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"egret." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "egret." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-egret.html "egret." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-egret.html |
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egret
e·gret / ˈēgrit; ˈēˌgret; ˈegrit/ • n. a heron (genera Egretta and Bubulcus) with mainly white plumage, having long plumes in the breeding season. |
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"egret." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "egret." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-egret.html "egret." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-egret.html |
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egret
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T. F. HOAD. "egret." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "egret." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-egret.html T. F. HOAD. "egret." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-egret.html |
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egret
egret
•caret • Sanskrit • Prakrit
•ferret, inherit, merit
•egret • secret
•dispirit, skirret, spirit
•floret • pomfret • bowsprit
•barbiturate
•turret, worrit
•culprit • floweret • Margaret
•cellaret (US cellarette)
•banneret, lanneret
•hypocrite • preterite (US preterit)
•Everett, leveret
•favourite (US favorite)
•interpret, misinterpret
•basset, facet, tacet, tacit
•Narragansett, transit
•lancet
•cresset, Knesset
•exit • resit
•complicit, elicit, explicit, illicit, implicit, licit, solicit
•Tilsit • plebiscite • babysit • deficit
•cosset, posset
•Quonset • whatsit
•corset, Dorset, faucet
•gusset, russet
•dulcet
•tercet, verset
•ashet • planchet • bullshit • Bastet
•tomtit • bluetit
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"egret." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "egret." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-egret.html "egret." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-egret.html |
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