griffin

[grif-in]

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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.

Also griffon, gryph·on

[grif-uh n] /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

Related formsgrif·fin·esque, adjective

griffin

[grif-in]

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

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

Griffin

[grif-in]

noun

a city in W Georgia.

a male given name.

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

Related Words for griffin

cougar, wildcat, cat, puma, lioness, leo, simba

Examples from the Web for griffin

Contemporary Examples of griffin

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
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
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
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
Griffin screen-capped a series of direct messages that are allegedly from him.
Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire Posts Pro-Palestine Photo, Allegedly Cyberbullies Israeli-Born MTV VJ
Robert Silverman
July 14, 2014

Historical Examples of griffin

The griffin was itself a compound creature, half lion and half eagle.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
If I should have a wire that Mr. Griffin was worse it might be shorter still.
Cap'n Dan's Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln
You know our junior partner, Mr. Griffin, has been very ill—I wrote you that.
Cap'n Dan's Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln
"I'm busy, Griffin," she began, and then broke off as she saw the girls.
Miss Pat at School
Pemberton Ginther
"I think it more likely that it was Griffin herself," said Elinor with spirit.
Miss Pat at School
Pemberton Ginther

British Dictionary definitions for griffin

griffin

griffon or gryphon

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

griffin

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

Word Origin and History for griffin

c.1200 (as a surname), from Old French grifon "a bird of prey," also "fabulous bird of Greek mythology" (with head and wings of an eagle, body and hind quarters of a lion, believed to inhabit Scythia and guard its gold), from Late Latin gryphus, misspelling of grypus, variant of gryps (genitive grypos), from Greek gryps (genitive grypos) "curved, hook-nosed," in reference to its beak.

Klein suggests a Semitic source, "through the medium of the Hittites," and cites Hebrew kerubh "a winged angel," Akkad. karibu, epithet of the bull-colossus (see cherub). The same or an identical word was used, with uncertain connections, in mid-19c. Louisiana to mean "mulatto" (especially one one-quarter or two-fifths white) and in India from late 18c. to mean "newly arrived European."