gyrfalcon

noun

gyr·​fal·​con ˈjər-ˌfal-kən How to pronounce gyrfalcon (audio)
-ˌfȯl-,
 also  -ˌfȯ-kən
: an arctic falcon (Falco rusticolus) that occurs in several color forms and is the largest of all falcons

Illustration of gyrfalcon

Illustration of gyrfalcon

Examples of gyrfalcon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Swanson guided the raptor — a hybrid of the Arctic gyrfalcon and Western U.S. prairie falcon, which can dive at speeds of around 100 miles per hour — onto his leather-gloved fist and walked with Savastano and Gillian up onto the boardwalk. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Among al-Kāmil’s gifts to Frederick was a gyrfalcon, a splendid bird of prey that originates in the Arctic and North America, and likely came from Iceland, then almost at the northwestern edge of European exploration. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 28 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gerfaucun, from Anglo-French girfauc, girfaucon, probably from gir vulture (from Old High German gīr) + faucon falcon

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gyrfalcon was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gyrfalcon

Cite this Entry

“Gyrfalcon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gyrfalcon. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gyrfalcon

noun
gyr·​fal·​con ˈjər-ˌfal-kən How to pronounce gyrfalcon (audio)
-ˌfȯl-;
-ˌfȯ-kən
: an arctic falcon that occurs in shades of white, gray, or dark brown and is the largest of all falcons

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