osprey
/ˈɑspɹi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.89 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A bird of prey of genus Pandion that feeds on fish and has white underparts and long, narrow wings each ending in four finger-like extensions.
noun
name
A census-designated place in Sarasota County, Florida, United States.
Example Sentences
- "1594, George Peele (attributed), The Battle of Alcazar I will provide thee of a princely osprey."
- "But (oh Jove!) your actions, / Soon as they move, as ospreys do the fish, / Subdue before they touch."
- "A pair of ospreys bred at a confidential nesting site in Co. Fermanagh in what has been described as like finding long-lost treasure."
Etymology
From Late Middle English ospray, from Anglo-Norman ospriet, from Medieval Latin avis praedae (“bird of prey”), a generic term apparently confused with this specific bird in Old French on its similarity to ossifrage.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɑspɹi/
- British English: /ˈɒspɹeɪ/
Inflected Forms
Phrases
eastern osprey
western osprey