peregrine
Americanadjective
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foreign; alien; coming from abroad.
-
wandering, traveling, or migrating.
noun
adjective
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coming from abroad
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travelling or migratory; wandering
Other Word Forms
- peregrinity noun
Etymology
Origin of peregrine
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin peregrīnus foreign, derivative of peregrē abroad, literally, through (i.e., beyond the borders of ) the field, equivalent to per- per- + -egr-, combining form of ager field + -ē adv. suffix; -ine 1
Explanation
A peregrine is a fairly common type of raptor, or hunting bird. While peregrines are about the size of a crow, they are much fiercer predators. You can also call a peregrine a peregrine falcon. In falconry, the training of hawks and falcons for hunting, peregrines are popular. These birds are found everywhere on earth with just a few exceptions. The word peregrine has a Latin root, peregrinus, "coming from foreign parts" — these birds tend to be caught during migration rather than taken from the nest. Peregrine is also used to simply mean "migratory" or "foreign."
Vocabulary lists containing peregrine
A Lexical Zoo of Animal Adjectives
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My Side of the Mountain
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On the Far Side of the Mountain
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A 60% mortality rate in the first year means it's a "tough gig" being a young peregrine falcon, Dr Hurley observes, adding that such a rate is common among predators.
From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025
“He is a mix between a bird of prey, like a peregrine falcon, with extremely streamlined shapes — of course a feline but also a Mexican salamander called an axolotl,” Otto says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2025
Ms Merriman said the video appeared to show the starlings had been successful as the peregrine falcon was not seen to get any of the birds.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025
You might spot a peregrine falcon or other raptor, including kestrels, which nest there.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024
“I think two peregrine falcons are nesting on the bridge,” she had said.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
