different between osprey vs ospray

English

Etymology

From Late Middle English ospray, from Anglo-Norman ospriet, from Medieval Latin avis prede (“bird of prey”), a generic term apparently confused with this specific bird in Old French on its similarity to ossifrage.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??sp?i/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /??sp?e?/

Noun

osprey (plural ospreys)

1. A bird of prey (Pandion haliaetus) that feeds on fish and has white underparts and long, narrow wings each ending in four finger-like extensions.
   • 1594, George Peele (attributed), The Battle of Alcazar

     I will provide thee of a princely osprey.

   • c. 1612-13, William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, Two Noble Kinsmen

     But (oh Jove!) your actions, / Soon as they move, as ospreys do the fish, / Subdue before they touch. Two Noble Kinsmen

2. aigrette (ornamental feather)

Synonyms

• fish eagle (a misnomer as the osprey is not an eagle, but compare some of the translations below)
• fish hawk (a misnomer as the osprey is not a hawk)
• orfray (obsolete, incorrect)
• ossifrage (from Latin "bone-breaker")
• osspringer (obsolete)

Translations

Anagrams

• Poyers

English

Noun

ospray (plural osprays)

1. Dated form of osprey.

Anagrams

• payors

Middle English

Alternative forms

• hospray

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman ospriet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??spr?i?/

Noun

ospray

1. osprey

Descendants

• English: osprey

References

• “osprai, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-4.