"gannet" means: Any of three species of large seabird in the genus , of the family . They have black and white bodies and long pointed wings, and hunt for f.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
gannet
Any of three species of large seabird in the genus , of the family .
Seen in the wild
Lovely shots for #BirdOfTheDay #Seabirds Rob - I hope to make it to Bempton this summer. This Gannet put on a great show at Ayr harbour. #Birds #BirdingScotland #BirdTherapy #NatureCantWait #StateofNature2023 #UkWild…
A tender moment on the Bass Rock yesterday as a male gannet returned to the nest to take over egg incubation duties from the female🥹🥚 This changeover allows gannet parents to take it in turns to forage for food at…
Solan goose. In. Golden light. In flight. Yesterday evenings flyby at Mary's geo, as the last light left. Northern gannet. #Papay #Gannet #goldenflight #Orkney #solangoose
A #LowFlying Gannet skims the waves off the Point of Ayre #IsleOfMan 🇮🇲 #BirdOfTheDay
This was the reason for me studying them, i really wanted one of these iconic shots where the Gannet goes into missile mode just before hitting the water. Very hard to get but well worth the time i spent i think.
Definitions
Any of three species of large seabird in the genus , of the family . They have black and white bodies and long pointed wings, and hunt for fish by plunge diving and pursuing their prey underwater.
"gannet" means: Any of three species of large seabird in the genus , of the family . They have black and white bodies and long pointed wings, and hunt for f.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"gannet" means: Any of three species of large seabird in the genus , of the family . They have black and white bodies and long pointed wings, and hunt for f.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
“Lovely shots for #BirdOfTheDay #Seabirds Rob - I hope to make it to Bempton this summer. This Gannet put on a great show at Ayr harbour. #Birds #BirdingScotland #BirdTherapy #NatureCantWait #StateofNature2023 #UkWildlife #wildlifephotography #EastCoastKin”
— Bluesky· May 2026“A tender moment on the Bass Rock yesterday as a male gannet returned to the nest to take over egg incubation duties from the female🥹🥚 This changeover allows gannet parents to take it in turns to forage for food at sea while the other protects the egg on their nest🩵”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Solan goose. In. Golden light. In flight. Yesterday evenings flyby at Mary's geo, as the last light left. Northern gannet. #Papay #Gannet #goldenflight #Orkney #solangoose”
— Bluesky· May 2026“A #LowFlying Gannet skims the waves off the Point of Ayre #IsleOfMan 🇮🇲 #BirdOfTheDay”
— Bluesky· May 2026“This was the reason for me studying them, i really wanted one of these iconic shots where the Gannet goes into missile mode just before hitting the water. Very hard to get but well worth the time i spent i think.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
(chiefly, transitive, informal, British) To wolf down, gobble or eat (something) voraciously.
Comments
(chiefly, British, South Africa) A voracious eater; a glutton.
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- seagull66%
Any of several white, often dark-backed birds of the family having long, pointed wings and short legs.
- penguin62%
Any of several flightless sea birds, of the family within the order , found in the Southern Hemisphere, marked by their usual upright stance, walking on short legs, and (generally) their stark black and white plumage.
- pelican59%
Any of various seabirds of the family , having a long bill with a distendable pouch.