griffin

[ grif-in ]

/ ˈgrɪf ɪn /

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noun Classical Mythology.

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

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Also grif·fon, gryph·on

[grif-uhn] /ˈgrɪf ən/ .

Origin of griffin

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

OTHER WORDS FROM griffin

grif·fin·esque, adjective

Words nearby griffin

grievously, griff, griffa, griffe, Griffes, griffin, Griffith, Griffith, D. W., Griffith-Joyner, griffon, grift

Other definitions for griffin (2 of 3)

griffin²

[ grif-in ]

/ ˈgrɪf ɪn /

noun

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

Origin of griffin

First recorded in 1785–95; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM griffin

grif·fin·age, grif·fin·hood, grif·fin·ism, noungrif·fin·ish, adjective

Other definitions for griffin (3 of 3)

Griffin

[ grif-in ]

/ ˈgrɪf ɪn /

noun

a city in W Georgia.

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use griffin in a sentence

In his response, Griffin confirmed that “the execution varies by the channel of the order.”
Congress presses Robinhood CEO on company’s role in GameStop stock frenzy|Tory Newmyer, Douglas MacMillan, Hamza Shaban|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
Griffin never entered the Capitol building itself, did not realize he was standing in restricted areas and posed no serious risk of flight, Smith said.
N.M. official who warned of ‘blood running out of’ U.S. Capitol jailed pending trial in Jan. 6 riot case|Spencer Hsu|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
The job title would later change to director of programming, but Griffin’s vision has been remarkably consistent.
Folger Theatre’s Janet Griffin announces her retirement after decades of devotion to Shakespeare|Peter Marks|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Still, there are some indications that perhaps the last remnants of Griffin’s dominance were drained from the bottle during the 2019-20 campaign.
The Pistons’ Problem Isn’t Their Offseason Moves, It’s Their Struggling Veterans|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|January 4, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Griffin and another coach from the high school attended Maryland’s game at Rutgers in March.
After a quiet freshman season, Hakim Hart is starting to make some noise for Maryland|Emily Giambalvo|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
Missing from much of the action were Lois Griffin and Marge Simpson.
The Griffins Go to Springfield: ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Family Guy’ Collide|Rich Goldstein|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The series begins with a voiceover from a 9-year-old boy named Charlie (Griffin Gluck), basically a more precocious Meredith Grey.
‘Red Band Society’ Is Really Freaking Sad (And May Be TV’s Best New Drama)|Kevin Fallon|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Griffin is herself a character in the novel, the invisible hand on the other end of the tape recorder in all the interviews.
A YA Novel About a Warhol Girl With Banksy Talent|Hugh Ryan|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Griffin mined the portfolios of four artists to create the vast collection of images that dot the book.
A YA Novel About a Warhol Girl With Banksy Talent|Hugh Ryan|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Griffin Dunne directed that episode and he wanted me to feel like a caged animal.
Julianna Margulies's Favorite 'The Good Wife' Scenes|Julianna Margulies|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was the most portentous picture of a Griffin on the first page, with verses below.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Goodness only knew what a falchion was, but there was the Griffin, and his history was an improvement upon the eternal Cat.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
The Griffin carried off one sheep a day from a German village, till a man came with a "falchion" and split the Griffin open.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
A more simple thing would be to take the griffin to your wife and bring her here.
Chicot the Jester|Alexandre Dumas, Pere
Then, bring here the griffin of Signor Astolfo, and let me mount en croupe, and go to my wife.
Chicot the Jester|Alexandre Dumas, Pere

British Dictionary definitions for griffin (1 of 2)

griffin¹

griffon or gryphon

/ (ˈɡrɪfɪn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for griffin

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

British Dictionary definitions for griffin (2 of 2)

griffin²

/ (ˈɡrɪfɪn) /

noun

a newcomer to the Orient, esp one from W Europe

Word Origin for griffin

C18: of unknown origin

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

griffin

Origin of griffin

OTHER WORDS FROM griffin

Words nearby griffin

Other definitions for griffin (2 of 3)

Origin of griffin

OTHER WORDS FROM griffin

Other definitions for griffin (3 of 3)

Words related to griffin

How to use griffin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for griffin (1 of 2)

griffon or gryphon

Word Origin for griffin

British Dictionary definitions for griffin (2 of 2)

Word Origin for griffin