Aigret
/ˈeɪɡrət/noun
A small heron, or a plume or tuft resembling an egret’s feathers, especially one used as an ornament.
Did you know?Aigrettes became fashionable hat ornaments, helping drive the commercial hunting of egrets until conservation laws restricted the plume trade.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*haigrô
“A reconstructed word for a heron-like bird; the exact form is uncertain.”
Old High German
OHG
heigaro
“Heron.”
Old French
Old French
aigron
“Heron; a bird-name inherited through Germanic influence.”
16th Century
French
aigrette
“A small egret or heron; later, a plume or tuft resembling its feathers.”
17th Century
English
aigret
“An egret or an ornamental plume, especially one worn as a decoration.”
Modern English
English
aigret
“A rare term for an egret or a decorative feather tuft.”