What is "aigret"

Aigret \Ai"gret\, Aigrette \Ai*grette\, n. [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. (Zo["o]l.) 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.) A feathery crown of seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of the dandelion or the thistle. [1913 Webster] ||

n. (alternative spelling of aigrette English)

n. a long plume (especially one of egret feathers) worn on a hat or a piece of jewelry in the shape of a plume [syn: aigrette]