noun
griffon
A large vulture native to Europe, Asia, or Africa.
The griffon circles above the hillside, searching for a carcass.
Etymology
The bird name was borrowed from French griffon. It designates a large vulture; a precise deeper explanation for applying the name to the bird is uncertain here.
More examples
- Several griffons gather around the remains of a dead sheep.
- A griffon spreads its broad wings and leaves the cliff.
- We watch a pair of griffons soaring over the Spanish countryside.
Forms
griffon · griffons
Similar words
- vulture
- A broader term that also includes species native to the Americas.