gannet

gan·net

noun \ˈga-nət\

plural gannets also gannet

Definition of GANNET

: any of a genus (Morus of the family Sulidae, the gannet family) of large fish-eating seabirds that breed in colonies chiefly on offshore islands

Origin of GANNET

Middle English ganet, from Old English ganot; akin to Old English gōs goose

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with GANNET

granite, planet

gannet

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Northern gannets (Morus bassanus).—William and Laura Riley

Any of three oceanic bird species (family Sulidae) closely related to the booby. Gannets are found in the North Atlantic, where they are the largest seabirds, and in temperate waters around Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Adults are mainly white with black-tipped wing feathers and a large, yellowish or buff-coloured head marked with black around the eyes. They have a tapered beak and pointed tail. They dive with half-closed wings to catch fish and squid. They waddle on land but are expert fliers, spending most of their lives over water. They nest in dense colonies on cliffs. The largest species is the 40-in. (100-cm) northern gannet.