gyrfalcon

American  

[jur-fawl-kuhn, -fal-, -faw-kuhn] / ˈdʒɜrˌfɔl kən, -ˌfæl-, -ˌfɔ kən /

Also gerfalcon

noun

1. a large falcon, Falco rusticolus, of Arctic and subarctic regions, having white, gray, or blackish color phases: now greatly reduced in number.

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gyrfalcon British  

/ ˈdʒɜːˌfɔːlkən, -ˌfɔːkən /

noun

1. a very large rare falcon, Falco rusticolus, of northern and arctic regions: often used for hunting

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Etymology

Origin of gyrfalcon

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gerfaucon, jerfacoun, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to ger- (perhaps from Old High German giri “greedy”) + faucon falcon; compare Old Norse geirfalki

Example Sentences

Gerfalcon, Gyrfalcon, jėr′fawl-kon, -fawk'n, n. a large falcon, found in the northern regions of both the Old and New Worlds.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various