aigrette

noun

ai·​grette ā-ˈgret 

ˈā-ˌgret

1

: a spray of feathers (as of the egret) for the head

2

: a spray of gems worn on a hat or in the hair

Examples of aigrette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Delicate and adorned with wispy white feathers that wouldn’t come cheap, this aigrette (the French word for egret) would rest atop the head of a rich and fashionable society figure. —Angela Serratore, Smithsonian, 15 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

French, plume, egret, from Middle French — more at egret

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1