lammergeier
or lam·mer·gey·er, lam·mer·geir
[ lam-er-gahy-er, -gahyuh r ]
/ ˈlæm ərˌgaɪ ər, -ˌgaɪər /
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.
Also called
bearded vulture.
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)
Words nearby lammergeier
laminous,
lamister,
lamium,
lammas,
lammastide,
lammergeier,
lamont,
lamoureux,
lamp,
lamp chimney,
lamp oil
Example sentences from the Web for lammergeier
The lammergeier (Gypatus barbatus) had almost become extinct in 1900; but several varieties of eagle and falcon are left.
A lammergeier swooped down on wide funereal wings; it peered at us; darted away toward the cliffs.
The Metal Monster |A. Merritt
British Dictionary definitions for lammergeier
lammergeier
lammergeyer
/ (ˈlæməˌɡaɪə) /
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