| 释义 | osprey|ˈɒspreɪ|
Forms: 5–7 ospray(e, 7 aspray, osperaye, ospraie, -eie, 6– osprey.
[First found in 15th c.; app. repr. L. ossifraga, lit. ‘bone-breaker’, in Pliny the name of a bird of prey, through an earlier *osphraye = OF. *osfraie, whence later F. orfraie or offraie (Belon, 1555). But the connecting ME. and OF. forms have not been found, and it is remarkable that the word is of so late appearance in both langs.
Pliny's ossifraga is identified by modern ornithologists with the Lammergeyer, but it was rendered by Du Ponet in F. orfraye, and by Holland ‘orfraie or ospreie’, and the transference of the name from the Lammergeyer to the Fish-hawk must have occurred at an early date, if osprey actually represents ossifraga. See ossifrage.]
1. A large diurnal bird of prey, Pandion (Falco Linn.) Haliaëtus, frequenting rocky sea-shores and borders of lakes, and preying upon fish; also called sea-eagle, fishing-eagle, fish-hawk.
c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 402 Every goos, teele, Mallard, Ospray, & also swanne. a1529Skelton P. Sparowe 462 The roke, with the ospraye That putteth fysshes to a fraye. 1601Holland Pliny I. 272 These Orfraies or Ospreies are not thought to be a seuerall kind of Egles by themselues, but to be mungrels, and ingendred of diuers sorts. 1607Shakes. Cor. iv. vii. 34, I think hee'l be to Rome As is the Aspray to the Fish. 1637Heywood Dialogues Wks. 1874 VI. 315 The wary Ospray whilst the fishes play Above the wave, stoopes downe to cease her prey. 1773G. White Selborne 9 Nov. 97 The osprey was shot about a year ago at Frinsham-pond. 1843Yarrell Hist. Birds I. 21 The genus Pandion was instituted for the Osprey by M. Savigny. 1895Outing (U.S.) XXVII. 60/2 A splendid osprey circled in the sunlight on the look-out for breakfast.
2. A milliner's name for an egret plume worn as an ornament on a lady's hat or bonnet; sometimes, like aigrette, extended to an artificial plume or other ornament used for the same purpose. (It has been thought that this erroneous use arose from associating osprey with spray.)
1885Pall Mall G. 29 Jan. 3/2 Fine crême Dunstable straw bonnets, trimmed with crême velvet, and crême aigrettes with crême and gold osprey. 1887Daily News 28 Sept. 5/4 A slender spiral feather of the most fragile and delicate appearance... This ornament is called an osprey. 1892Ibid. 1 Mar. 5/4 These [aigret] feathers are white... They are often dyed by milliners to various tints, and have by them for some reason been named ‘osprey’. 1893Lady 17 Aug. 178 Velvet bows holding some upright spray, such as oats, jet aigrettes, osprey, or wheat-ears. Ibid., Jet osprey or fancy wings cost from 1s. 6½d. 1898Globe 19 Jan. 3/2 ‘Ospreys’ (or sprays) is..the milliners' and dressmakers' term, ignorantly and commonly used, for the plumes of the egret or white heron. |
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