lammergeier

Or lam·mer·gey·er,

[lam-er-gahy-er, -gahy^uhr]

noun

1. 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.

lammergeier

/ ˈlæməˌɡaɪə /

noun

1. Also called: bearded vulture. (archaic): ossifrage. 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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lammergeier¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lammergeier¹

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

Example Sentences

In English, the bearded vulture is also known as the lammergeier – German for “lamb vulture” – because of the false old belief that they killed sheep and lambs.

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Dale Kedward, who filmed the lammergeier, said: "I thought it was going to pick up my dog, it was that big."

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The lammergeier, as they call it in the Alpine regions.

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In this volume no descriptions of scaling ice-walls, searching for the lammergeiers' nests, or any other great feats, will be found.

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The awful, witch-like screaming of the lammergeier saluted the falling darkness where he squatted, a huge huddle of unclean plumage amid the debris of decay and death.

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