osprey
English
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
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɑspɹi/
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audio (US): (file)
Noun
osprey (plural ospreys)
- 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, I will provide thee of a princely osprey. — Peele, Battle of Alcazar
- c. 1612-13: But (oh Jove!) your actions, / Soon as they move, as ospreys do the fish, / Subdue before they touch. — Shakespeare, Fletcher, Two Noble Kinsmen
- aigrette (ornamental feather)
Synonyms
- fish eagle (a misnomer as the osprey is not an eagle, but compare some of the translations below)
- fish hawk (a misnomer as the osprey is not a hawk)
- orfray (obsolete, incorrect)
- ossifrage (from Latin "bone-breaker")
- osspringer (obsolete)
Translations
bird of prey
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- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Anglo-Norman
- English terms derived from Medieval Latin
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Birds of prey