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

Along the river, look for more birds like kingfishers, osprey, and eagles. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2024

Climb the cabin’s scenic watchtower to scout for wildlife like ospreys, bald eagles, and deer, or catch more flora and fauna from the nearby hiking jaunts, including six-mile out-and-back Snoopers Rock Trail, roughly a 30-minute drive away. —Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024

James said there are 375 osprey stewards throughout the state monitoring more than 1,000 osprey around the state. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2024

The ponds hold a mix of saltwater and spring-fed freshwater—ideal conditions for osprey and kingfishers, river otters and fish, and especially oysters, quahog clams and scallops. —Mary Forgione, Forbes, 23 Oct. 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