osprey
Syllabification: (os·prey)
Pronunciation: /ˈäsprā, -prē/
Definition of osprey
noun ( plural ospreys)
- a large fish-eating bird of prey with long narrow wings and a white underside and crown, found throughout the world. Also called fish hawk.
- Pandion haliaetus, the only member of the family Pandionidae
Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French ospres, apparently based on Latin ossifraga (mentioned by Pliny and identified with the lammergeier), from os 'bone' + frangere 'to break', probably because of the lammergeier's habit of dropping bones from a height to break them and reach the marrow