gannet

American  

[gan-it] / ˈgæn ɪt /

noun

1. any large, web-footed, seabird of the family Sulidae, having a sharply pointed bill, long wings, and a wedge-shaped tail, noted for its plunging dives for fish.

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gannet British  

/ ˈɡænɪt /

noun

1. any of several heavily built marine birds of the genus Morus (or Sula ), having a long stout bill and typically white plumage with dark markings: family Sulidae, order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, etc) See also booby

2. slang a gluttonous or greedy person

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Etymology

Origin of gannet

before 900; Middle English; Old English ganot; akin to Dutch gent gander

Example Sentences

Evolutionary biologists at Ghent University examined museum specimens of 324 species of seabirds, including ospreys, northern gannets, and great black-backed gulls.

From Science Magazine

Preventing albatross, petrels, gannets, boobies and other seabirds from being caught in gillnets is not easy.

From New York Times

In 2017, the society also supported a Day to Night series on bird migration around the world, from sandhill cranes in Nebraska to northern gannets in Scotland.

From National Geographic

Earthflight The new episode “Africa” takes viewers arrow-diving with Cape gannets as they bob and weave above sharks, dolphins and whales that are joining the great sardine run.

From Los Angeles Times

Although they shared these physical traits with ancient and modern penguins, plotopterids are more closely related to gannets and cormorants than they are to penguins.

From Fox News