noun
gannet
GAN-it/ˈɡænɪt/
A large seabird that dives for fish.
A gannet folds its wings and plunges into the sea.
Etymology
Old English ganot already named a seabird. It belongs to the same historical word family as goose, connecting the modern diving bird’s name with older waterfowl vocabulary.
In context
Malagas Island is the nesting ground for some 60,000 Cape gannets. Normally, one gannet parent goes off fishing while the other looks after the chick.
More examples
- Gannets gather above a school of fish near the coast.
- We watched a gannet dive from high above the water.
- The gannet returns to its cliffside nest to feed its chick.
Forms
gannet · gannets
Similar words
- seabird
- A broader term for birds adapted to life at sea.