gyrfalcon

[ jur-fawl-kuhn, -fal-, -faw-kuhn ]

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

Origin of gyrfalcon

1
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
  • Also ger·fal·con .

Words Nearby gyrfalcon

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British Dictionary definitions for gyrfalcon

gyrfalcon

gerfalcon

/ (ˈdʒɜːˌfɔːlkən, -ˌfɔːkən) /


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

Origin of gyrfalcon

1
C14: from Old French gerfaucon, perhaps from Old Norse geirfalki, from geirr spear + falki falcon

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