griffe

¹ American  

[grif] / grɪf /

noun

Chiefly Louisiana.

1. the offspring of a Black person and a mulatto.

2. a person of mixed Black and American Indian ancestry.

3. a mulatto, especially a woman.

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griffe ² American  

[grif] / grɪf /

noun

Architecture.

1. an ornament at the base of a column, projecting from the torus toward a corner of the plinth.

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griffe British  

/ ɡrɪf /

noun

1. architect a carved ornament at the base of a column, often in the form of a claw

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Etymology

Origin of griffe¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1715–25; from Louisiana French, from Caribbean Spanish grifo “curly-haired”

Origin of griffe²

1870–75; < French: claw < Germanic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

griffe

On his bill of sale, it says that he is a griffe, a person of African and Native American descent.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2017

In a few minutes there passed by us three tall men, griffe in shade.

From Latitude 19 degree A Romance of the West Indies in the Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty by Crowninshield, Mrs. Schuyler

I longed to interpose with a warning word, for in the handwriting I recognized the griffe of the fatal Delilah.

From Guy Livingstone; or, 'Thorough' by Lawrence, George A. (George Alfred)

They were only signed with a griffe, or stamp, not by the King's pen and hand.

From Historical Mysteries by Lang, Andrew

But the griffe rudely jerked me to my feet again, and told me, I suppose, that I was to accompany him.

From Latitude 19 degree A Romance of the West Indies in the Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Twenty by Crowninshield, Mrs. Schuyler