griffon

¹ American  

[grif-uhn] / ˈgrɪf ən /

noun

1. a vulture of the genus Gyps, especially G. fulvus, of southern Europe.

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griffon ² American  

[grif-uhn] / ˈgrɪf ən /

noun

1. any of several varieties of the Brussels griffon differing from each other in coloration or in the texture of the coat.

2. Also called wirehaired pointing griffon.  one of a Dutch breed of medium-sized dogs having a coarse, steel-gray or grayish-white coat with chestnut markings, used for pointing and retrieving birds.

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griffon ¹ British  

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. any of various small wire-haired breeds of dog, originally from Belgium

2. any large vulture of the genus Gyps, of Africa, S Europe, and SW Asia, having a pale plumage with black wings: family Accipitridae (hawks)

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griffon ² British  

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. a variant of griffin 1

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Etymology

Origin of griffon¹

1350–1400; Middle English griffoun < French; see griffin ¹

Origin of griffon²

1820–30; < French; akin to griffin ¹

Example Sentences

Judge Tamas Jakkel's choice for reserve dog was a petit basset griffon vendeen called Meghan, from Croatia, who earlier won the Hound group.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

Fourth-grader Micah Wacker trains Ruby Mae, a 14-pound Brussels griffon, and has taken her to Canada, with his mom and grandmother, for competitions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

A further 15 griffon vultures will be brought over from Spain and released to the wild next year.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Buddy Holly, a petit basset griffon Vendéen, took the top prize at the Westminster Dog Show.

From New York Times • May 10, 2023

The wings seemed fully as heavy, broad, and square at the points as those of a griffon, but there was rather more curve at the elbow.

From Wild Spain (Espa?a agreste) Records of Sport with Rifle, Rod, and Gun, Natural History Exploration by Buck, Walter J.