The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret (
Ardea egretta syn.
Herodias egretta); the great egret (
Ardea alba); the little egret (
Ardea garzetta), of Europe; and the American snowy egret (
Ardea candidissima). [
1913 Webster]
"A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage."
[1913 Webster]