griffin

[ grif-in ]

See synonyms for griffin on Thesaurus.com

nounClassical Mythology.

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

Origin of griffin

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

Also grif·fon, gryph·on [grif-uhn] /ˈgrɪf ən/ .

Other words from griffin

grif·fin·esque, adjective

Other definitions for griffin (2 of 3)

griffin²

[ 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

Other words from griffin

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

Other definitions for Griffin (3 of 3)

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. 2023

How to use griffin in a sentence

By the end of the half hour, the Griffins already have a new dog and Brian is just a fond, often crass memory.
‘Family Guy’ Killed Off Brian Last Night. It Was the Right Move. | Kevin Fallon | November 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Griffins gather to say goodbye to Brian as he takes his last breaths.
‘Family Guy’ Killed Off Brian Last Night. It Was the Right Move. | Kevin Fallon | November 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was lined from end to end with sculptured bulls and griffins, and the great gate of Ishtar spans it midway in its length.
The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
The wind appeared to blow it about very harshly, and a gruesome company of dragons and griffins encompassed it.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams
Behind this opened up the inner court, the centre of which was occupied by a marble table supported by three griffins.
Delusion and Dream | Wilhelm Jensen

In the upper arcades griffins take the place of the lions, and the arches are again richly cusped.
Some Account of Gothic Architecture in Spain | George Edmund Street
The word was passed to Brereton by his wife or mother-in-law, and by Brereton to the Griffins, to mount and intercept the gold.
The Entailed Hat | George Alfred Townsend

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

Origin of 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

Origin of 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

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