osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈä-sprē  -ˌsprā 

plural ospreys

1

: a large fish-eating hawk (Pandion haliaetus) with long wings that is dark brown above and mostly pure white below

2

: a feather trimming used for millinery

Illustration of osprey

• osprey 1

Examples of osprey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The state park is listed on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, so be on the lookout for a variety of shorebirds on the beach, great blue herons, tricolored herons, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, osprey, bald eagles, owls and songbirds within the maritime hammock. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2024

Spy on ospreys in Newport Beach The Back Bay Science Center along upper Newport Bay opens its teaching lab, touch tanks and nature trails to the community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. —Laura Randall, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

But protecting ospreys is taken very seriously by the organization and its volunteers. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2024

Simply not randomly shooting ravens, hawks and eagles, along with banning the harmful pesticide DDT, allowed many species, like eagles, cormorants and osprey, to return from the brink. —John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ospray, from Anglo-French *osfraie, from Latin ossifraga, a bird of prey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈäs-prē  -ˌprā 

plural ospreys

: a large hawk that is dark brown above and mostly white below and that feeds chiefly on fish

called also fish hawk