eagle

[ee-guh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR eagle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of several large, soaring birds of prey belonging to the hawk family Accipitridae, noted for their size, strength, and powers of flight and vision: formerly widespread in North America, eagles are mostly confined to Alaska and a few isolated populations.Compare bald eagle, golden eagle.

a figure or representation of an eagle, much used as an emblem: the Roman eagle.

a standard, seal, or the like bearing such a figure.

one of a pair of silver insignia in the shape of eagles with outstretched wings worn by a colonel in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps and by a captain in the U.S. Navy.

(initial capital letter) a gold coin of the U.S., traded for investment, available in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 dollars containing 1/10 to 1 troy ounce of gold, having on its reverse a picture of an eagle: first issued in 1986.

a former gold coin of the U.S., issued until 1933, equal to 10 dollars, showing an eagle on its reverse.

Golf. a score of two below par for any single hole.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Aquila.

Cards.

a representation in green of an eagle, used on playing cards to designate a suit in the pack additional to the four standard suits.
a card of a suit so designated.
eagles,the suit itself.

verb (used with object), ea·gled, ea·gling.

Golf. to make an eagle on (a hole).

Origin of eagle

1350–1400; Middle English egle < Anglo-French, Old French egle, aigle < Latin aquila, noun use of feminine of aquilus dark-colored

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for eagle

flier, navigator, captain, aviator, leader, pilot, scout, jockey, dean, conductor, lead, bellwether, director, ace, flyer, guide, eagle, aerialist, coxswain, steerer

Examples from the Web for eagle

Contemporary Examples of eagle

This is Major Tom Calling…with great news: The Eagle has landed.
Making 'The Dog': The Amazing True Story Behind ‘Dog Day Afternoon’
Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren
August 10, 2014
Wall Street Journal: “Begley has a great many strengths—concision, eloquence, an eagle eye—and few of the usual shortcomings.”
The Best Biographies of 2014 (So Far)
Scott Porch
July 6, 2014
Achievement always marked his path: Eagle Scout, then Marine Corps—Iraq and Afghanistan—then Georgetown Law.
War Nostalgia Is Leading Veterans to Places Like Syria. One Went Missing There.
Elliot Ackerman
May 3, 2014
The gravity stands high and bright, like an eagle on a peak.
Are We in the Midst of a Kevin Costner Comeback?
Andrew Romano
January 28, 2014
McKenna here proved to remain an Eagle Scout in the very best sense amidst the bloodiest and most harrowing fight in the war.
Why Was My Son Killed in Fallujah—and His Murderer Set Free?
Michael Daly
January 12, 2014

Historical Examples of eagle

He was short and fat and bald, with little eyes, but with a look like an eagle.
The Boy Life of Napoleon
Eugenie Foa
One had the look of an eagle, with his beak-nose and deep-set, uncowed eyes.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
The raven, wolf, and eagle are the regular epic accompaniments of battle and carnage.
Beowulf
Unknown
It was my first introduction to the American eagle screaming for all it was worth.
American Notes
Rudyard Kipling
The difference only between the eagle and the vulture,—serenity or restlessness.
The Black Tulip
Alexandre Dumas (Pere)

British Dictionary definitions for eagle

eagle

noun

any of various birds of prey of the genera Aquila, Harpia, etc, having large broad wings and strong soaring flight: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc)See also golden eagle, harpy eagle, sea eagle Related adjective: aquiline

a representation of an eagle used as an emblem, etc, esp representing powerthe Roman eagle

a standard, seal, etc, bearing the figure of an eagle

golf a score of two strokes under par for a hole

a former US gold coin worth ten dollars: withdrawn from circulation in 1934

the shoulder insignia worn by a US full colonel or equivalent rank

verb

golf to score two strokes under par for a hole

Word Origin for eagle

C14: from Old French aigle, from Old Provençal aigla, from Latin aquila, perhaps from aquilus dark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for eagle

mid-14c., from Old French egle, from Old Provençal aigla, from Latin aquila "black eagle," fem. of aquilus, often explained as "dark colored" (bird); see aquiline. The native term was erne. Golf score sense is first recorded by 1908 (according to old golf sources, because it "soars higher" than a birdie). The figurative eagle-eyed is attested from c.1600.