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 actual Meadow Lane residents, like Ken Griffin and Leon Black, were nowhere to be found; the only ones who appeared to hear the question were a pair of ospreys feathering their nest on top of a mansion chimney. —Stephanie Krikorian, Curbed, 23 June 2025

While enjoying a game at the Splinter City Disc Golf Course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Marlowe looked up and saw an osprey flying overhead near the 11th hole. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

Atop snags struck dead by lightning, ospreys built their nests; their sharp calls reaching us like cymbals over bass line. —Bridget Crocker june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025

In 2024, the osprey clutch successfully hatched and the chicks remained in the nest for most of the year. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 June 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