alerion

[ uh-leer-ee-uhn, -on ]

noun

, Heraldry.

1. an eagle displayed, usually represented without a beak or legs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alerion¹

1595–1605; < French alérion ≪ Frankish *adalaron-; cognate with Old High German adelare noble eagle ( German Adler eagle), from distinction made in falconry between noble and ignoble birds of prey, equivalent to adal noble + *aron- eagle; erne

Example Sentences

A curious form of the eagle is found in the alerion, which is represented without beak or legs.

From Project Gutenberg

Loraine produces alerion, which is assigned as the reason for that house bearing eaglets in their arms.

From Project Gutenberg

The Alerion is a small bird of the eagle tribe, heraldically depicted as without beak or feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Some writers confound it with the martlet, stating that the alerion is the same bird with its wings displayed or extended.

From Project Gutenberg