griffin

¹

Also grif·fon,

[grif-in]

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. a fabled monster, usually having the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

griffin

²

[grif-in]

noun

1. (in India and the East) a newcomer, especially a white person from a Western country.

Griffin

³

[grif-in]

noun

1. a city in W Georgia.

2. a male given name.

griffin

¹

/ ˈɡrɪfɪn /

noun

1. a winged monster with an eagle-like head and the body of a lion

griffin

²

/ ˈɡrɪfɪn /

noun

1. a newcomer to the Orient, esp one from W Europe

Other Word Forms

• griffinesque adjective
• griffinage noun
• griffinhood noun
• griffinism noun
• griffinish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffin¹

1300–50; Middle English griffoun < Middle French grifon < Latin grȳphus < Greek grȳp- (stem of grȳ́ps ) “curled, curved, having a hooked nose”

Origin of griffin²

First recorded in 1785–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffin¹

C14: from Old French grifon, from Latin grӯphus, from Greek grups, from grupos hooked

Origin of griffin²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

On the left arm, the mythical griffin creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle appears to be fighting with a stag.

From BBC

Think animal jewelry — bridles, straps and other harness parts adorned with eagle heads, rosettes, griffins, busts of Herakles, serpents and lions, often shaped from gold.

From Los Angeles Times

A pair of sleeping lions, for instance, Irvine found in the back pages of a catalog for a Chicago statue company, and two iron griffins were hiding in the corner of an Alhambra marble shop.

From Los Angeles Times

Renaissance and Medieval pieces, and the “quality camp” or “fantasy furniture” he favored — weird and whimsical pieces embellished with mythical creatures; chairs sprouting antlers, torcheres bedecked with gargoyles, commodes atop griffin feet.

From New York Times

What she was proposing was wildly off-brand: an epic fantasy series with dragons, griffins, magic and political intrigue.

From New York Times

Related Words

• cat 
• cougar 
• wildcat