Aigrette

aigrette
    n 1: a long plume (especially one of egret feathers) worn on a
         hat or a piece of jewelry in the shape of a plume [syn:
         {aigrette}, {aigret}]
    

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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