gyrfalcon
[ jur-fawl-kuh n, -fal-, -faw-kuh n ]
/ ˈdʒɜrˌfɔl kən, -ˌfæl-, -ˌfɔ kən /
noun
a large falcon, Falco rusticolus, of arctic and subarctic regions, having white, gray, or blackish color phases: now greatly reduced in number.
Also
gerfalcon.
Origin of gyrfalcon
1300–50; Middle English
gerfaucon, jerfacoun < Middle French, Old French, equivalent to
ger- (perhaps < Old High German
giri greedy) +
faucon
falcon; compare Old Norse
geirfalki
Words nearby gyrfalcon
gyrator,
gyratory,
gyre,
gyrectomy,
gyrene,
gyrfalcon,
gyri,
gyri insulae,
gyro,
gyro horizon,
gyro pilot
Example sentences from the Web for gyrfalcon
British Dictionary definitions for gyrfalcon
gyrfalcon
gerfalcon
/ (ˈdʒɜːˌfɔːlkən, -ˌfɔːkən) /
noun
a very large rare falcon, Falco rusticolus, of northern and arctic regions: often used for hunting
Word Origin for gyrfalcon
C14: from Old French
gerfaucon, perhaps from Old Norse
geirfalki, from
geirr spear +
falki falcon