griffon

¹ American  

[grif-uhn] / ˈgrɪf ən /

noun

1. a vulture of the genus Gyps, especially G. fulvus, of southern Europe.

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griffon ² American  

[grif-uhn] / ˈgrɪf ən /

noun

1. any of several varieties of the Brussels griffon differing from each other in coloration or in the texture of the coat.

2. Also called wirehaired pointing griffon.  one of a Dutch breed of medium-sized dogs having a coarse, steel-gray or grayish-white coat with chestnut markings, used for pointing and retrieving birds.

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griffon ¹ British  

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. any of various small wire-haired breeds of dog, originally from Belgium

2. any large vulture of the genus Gyps, of Africa, S Europe, and SW Asia, having a pale plumage with black wings: family Accipitridae (hawks)

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griffon ² British  

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. a variant of griffin 1

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Etymology

Origin of griffon¹

1350–1400; Middle English griffoun < French; see griffin ¹

Origin of griffon²

1820–30; < French; akin to griffin ¹

Example Sentences

It is also home to Belladonna, a Griffon vulture.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

“Known for their complete devotion to their immediate families, they thrive on affection,” according to American Brussels Griffon Assn.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2025

Griffon vultures are a resident species in Cyprus but their population has dwindled to dangerously low numbers.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Fig, another Brussels Griffon, served as a flower girl.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2022

The Griffon, Phoenix, Centaur, Sphinx, Manticore, Ganesha, Ch’i-lin, and all the rest are like recurrent bad dreams, and we are well rid of them.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas