noun
osprey
OS-pray/ˈɑːspreɪ/
A fish-eating bird of prey with long wings.
The osprey rises from the water with a fish gripped in its talons.
Etymology
The Anglo-French bird name is traced to Latin “bird of prey,” a generic label narrowed to a fishing hawk. The modern name apparently also reflects confusion with another large bird’s name.
In context
its wingspan can reach six feet and its talons are designed specifically for catching and carrying big slippery fish the osprey is such a successful bird of prey
More examples
- The osprey carries a fish in its talons.
- Two ospreys build a nest on a platform near the lake.
- We watch an osprey circle above the river.
Forms
osprey · ospreys
Similar words
- fish hawk
- An informal name for the same fish-eating bird.