osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈä-sprē  -ˌsprā 

plural ospreys

1

: a large fish-eating hawk (Pandion haliaetus) with long wings that is dark brown above and mostly pure white below

2

: a feather trimming used for millinery

Illustration of osprey

• osprey 1

Examples of osprey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But permission to remove nests that still hold young ospreys is normally denied unless there’s a major health and human safety concern. —Mark Vancleave, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025

Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2025

The department sometimes issues nest removal permits when ospreys make nests on critical infrastructure like utility poles and cellphone tower, but they are usually denied if chicks remain. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Working with the state Department of Natural Resources, the school has been sending up a drone twice a week to monitor the chicks so that once the young ospreys are old enough and fly off, crews can remove the nest and switch on the traditional Friday Night Lights. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ospray, from Anglo-French *osfraie, from Latin ossifraga, a bird of prey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

osprey

noun

os·​prey ˈäs-prē  -ˌprā 

plural ospreys

: a large hawk that is dark brown above and mostly white below and that feeds chiefly on fish

called also fish hawk