aigret
Ai"gret, Ai*grette, n. Etym: [F., a sort of white heron, with a tuft of feathers on its head; a tuft of feathers; dim. of the same word as heron. See Heron, and cf. Egret, Egrette.] 1. (Zoöl.) Defn: The small white European heron. See Egret. 2. A plume or tuft for the head composed of feathers, or of gems, etc. Prescott. 3. A tuft like that of the egret. (Bot.) Defn: A feathery crown of seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of the dandelion or the thistle.