gyrfalcon

American  

[jur-fawl-kuhn, -fal-, -faw-kuhn] / ˈdʒɜrˌfɔl kən, -ˌfæl-, -ˌfɔ kən /

Also gerfalcon

noun

1. a large falcon, Falco rusticolus, of Arctic and subarctic regions, having white, gray, or blackish color phases: now greatly reduced in number.

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gyrfalcon British  

/ ˈdʒɜːˌfɔːlkən, -ˌfɔːkən /

noun

1. a very large rare falcon, Falco rusticolus, of northern and arctic regions: often used for hunting

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Etymology

Origin of gyrfalcon

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gerfaucon, jerfacoun, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to ger- (perhaps from Old High German giri “greedy”) + faucon falcon; compare Old Norse geirfalki

Example Sentences

For me, it's probably a bird called a gyrfalcon.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2023

If you’re lucky, you might catch a rare sighting of a swallow-tailed kite, zone-tailed hawk or gyrfalcon.

From Washington Post • Sep. 15, 2022

Just last month, Aurora, a glacier-white gyrfalcon and mascot of the Air Force Academy, was abducted in the middle of the night, and nearly met a tragic end.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2018

The most sought-after is the female gyrfalcon, larger by almost a third compared to the male, and originating from the Arctic.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2015

He owned a gyrfalcon named Thunderclap who never missed ha strike.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin