from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Aigret \Ai"gret\, Aigrette \Ai*grette\, n. [F., a sort of white
heron, with a tuft of feathers on its head; a tuft of
feathers; dim. of the same word as heron. See {Heron}, and
cf. {Egret}, {Egrette}.]
1. (Zool.) The small white European heron. See {Egret}.
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2. A plume or tuft for the head composed of feathers, or of
gems, etc. --Prescott.
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3. A tuft like that of the egret. (Bot.) A feathery crown of
seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of the dandelion or
the thistle.
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