heron

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heron poet. hern XIV. ME. he(i)roun, herne — OF. hairon (mod. héron) — Gmc. *χaiʒaran- (whence OHG. heigaro; cf. ON. hegri), dissimilated form of *χraiʒran- (cf. OE. hrāgra, MLG. rēger, MDu. reiger, OHG. reigaro, G. reiher), of imit. orig.
Hence heronry XVII.

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