gannet

What it means

1. Any of three species of large seabird in the genus Morus, of the family Sulidae. They have black and white bodies and long pointed wings, and hunt for fish by plunge diving and pursuing their prey underwater.

   Not but that they were kind and humane to a distressed sailor, if ever one had the good luck to get to land; and many a time, indeed, did Jack put out in his little corragh, that would breast the billows like any gannet, to lend a hand towards bringing off the crew from a wreck.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 527

2. South AfricaUKA voracious eater; a glutton.

   Synonyms: glutton

In a sentence

Not but that they were kind and humane to a distressed sailor, if ever one had the good luck to get to land; and many a time, indeed, did Jack put out in his little corragh, that would breast the billows like any gannet, to lend a hand towards bringing off the crew from a wreck.

1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 527

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Germanic*ganzô
2. Proto-Germanic*ganatuz
3. Proto-West Germanic*ganat
4. Old Englishganot
5. Middle Englishganet
6. Englishgannet

From Middle English ganet, gante, from Old English ganot, from Proto-West Germanic *ganat, *ganatō, from Proto-Germanic *ganatuz, *ganutô (“gander”), ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *ganzô. Cognates Cognate with Dutch gent, Middle Low German gante, German Ganter, Ganser, all “gander, male goose”.