Hypertext Webster Gateway: "egret"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Egret \E"gret\, n. [See {Aigret}, {Heron}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) The name of several species of herons which
bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among
the best known species are the American egret ({Ardea, or
Herodias, egretta}); the great egret ({A. alba}); the
little egret ({A. garzetta}), of Europe; and the American
snowy egret ({A. candidissima}).
A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. --G. W.
Cable.
2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress,
or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.
3. (Bot.) The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or
achenes, as the down of the thistle.
4. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of ape.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
egret
n : any of various usually white herons having long plumes
during breeding season
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