lammergeier

or lam·mer·gey·er, lam·mer·geir

[lam-er-gahy-er, -gahyuh r]

noun

the largest Eurasian bird of prey, Gypaëtus barbatus, ranging in the mountains from southern Europe to China, having a wingspread of 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3 meters) and black feathers hanging from below the bill like a mustache.

Origin of lammergeier

1810–20; < German Lämmergeier literally, lambs' vulture (from its preying on lambs), equivalent to Lämmer, plural of Lamm lamb + Geier vulture (cognate with Dutch gier)

Also called bearded vulture.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for lammergeier

Historical Examples of lammergeier

A black speck appeared high in the sky; grew fast—the lammergeier.
The Metal Monster
A. Merritt
A lammergeier swooped down on wide funereal wings; it peered at us; darted away toward the cliffs.
The Metal Monster
A. Merritt
The plumage of the lammergeier is grayish brown above and nearly white below.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History
Theodore Wood
The lammergeier (Gypatus barbatus) had almost become extinct in 1900; but several varieties of eagle and falcon are left.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for lammergeier

lammergeier

lammergeyer

noun

a rare vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, of S Europe, Africa, and Asia, with dark wings, a pale breast, and black feathers around the bill: family Accipitridae (hawks)Also called: bearded vulture (archaic): ossifrage

Word Origin for lammergeier

C19: from German Lämmergeier, from Lämmer lambs + Geier vulture

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