Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Egret \E"gret\, n. [See {Aigret}, {Heron}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) The name of several species of herons which
      bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among
      the best known species are the American egret ({Ardea, or
      Herodias, egretta}); the great egret ({A. alba}); the
      little egret ({A. garzetta}), of Europe; and the American
      snowy egret ({A. candidissima}).

            A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. --G. W.
                                                  Cable.

   2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress,
      or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.

   3. (Bot.) The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or
      achenes, as the down of the thistle.

   4. (Zo["o]l.) A kind of ape.

Heron \Her"on\, n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF.
   hairon, F. h['e]ron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan.
   heire, Sw. h["a]ger, and also G. h["a]her jay, jackdaw, OHG.
   hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G.
   reiher, AS. hr[=a]gra. Cf. {Aigret}, {Egret}.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Any wading bird of the genus {Ardea} and allied genera, of
   the family {Ardeid[ae]}. The herons have a long, sharp bill,
   and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe
   toothed. The common European heron ({Ardea cinerea}) is
   remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was
   formerly hunted with the larger falcons.

   Note: There are several common American species; as, the
         great blue heron ({Ardea herodias}); the little blue
         ({A. c[oe]rulea}); the green ({A. virescens}); the
         snowy ({A. candidissima}); the night heron or qua-bird
         ({Nycticorax nycticorax}). The plumed herons are called
         {egrets}.

   {Heron's bill} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Erodium}; -- so
      called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the
      head and beak of the heron.