gyrfalcon

[ jur-fawl-kuhn, -fal-, -faw-kuhn ]

noun

1. a large falcon, Falco rusticolus, of Arctic and subarctic regions, having white, gray, or blackish color phases: now greatly reduced in number.

gyrfalcon

/ ˈdʒɜːˌfɔːlkən; -ˌfɔːkən /

noun

1. a very large rare falcon, Falco rusticolus, of northern and arctic regions: often used for hunting

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrfalcon¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gerfaucon, jerfacoun, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to ger- (perhaps from Old High German giri “greedy”) + faucon falcon; compare Old Norse geirfalki

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrfalcon¹

C14: from Old French gerfaucon, perhaps from Old Norse geirfalki, from geirr spear + falki falcon

Example Sentences

The copperplate lines are so exact they mimic the individual venation of feathers; the neck of a gyrfalcon takes on all the ripply realism of moiréd silk.

From New York Times

For me, it's probably a bird called a gyrfalcon.

From Salon

It's a wild place where herds of caribou move around wolves and bears in wide arcs, musk oxen graze among dwarf willows, and gyrfalcons search the terrain for waterbirds.

From Salon

In 2018 an endangered gyrfalcon named Aurora was the Air Force Academy’s mascot.

From New York Times

The service academy’s students will vote on a name for the female gyrfalcon from suggestions submitted via social media, The Gazette reports.

From Washington Times