osprey

American  

[os-pree] / ˈɒs pri /

noun

plural

ospreys

1. Also called fish hawk.  a large hawk, Pandion haliaetus, that feeds on fish.

2. a plume for trimming hats.

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osprey British  

/ ˈɒsprɪ, -preɪ /

noun

1. Often called (US and Canadian): fish hawk.  a large broad-winged fish-eating diurnal bird of prey, Pandion haliaetus, with a dark back and whitish head and underparts: family Pandioridae

2. any of the feathers of various other birds, used esp as trimming for hats

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Etymology

Origin of osprey

1425–75; late Middle English ospray ( e ) ≪ Latin ossifraga ossifrage; compare Middle French orfraie, offraie, Old French ospres

Example Sentences

A pair of ospreys appear to have avoided last year's love triangle drama after both returned to their nest.

From BBC

Wildlife already appears on banknotes in the UK, with mackerel, otters, red squirrels and osprey featuring on notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

From BBC

Conservationists are awaiting the return of the first pair of ospreys to breed on England's south coast for 180 years.

From BBC

With him was Geoffrey McQuilkin, the Mono Lake Committee’s executive director, who held binoculars as he pointed out ospreys, American avocets, Wilson’s phalaropes and other birds.

From Los Angeles Times

Gilestone Farm in Powys was originally bought for £4.75m but plans to help Green Man festival's owners were abandoned when ospreys started nesting there.

From BBC