griffon

¹

[ grif-uhn ]

noun

1. a vulture of the genus Gyps, especially G. fulvus, of southern Europe.

griffon

²

[ grif-uhn ]

noun

1. any of several varieties of the Brussels griffon differing from each other in coloration or in the texture of the coat. Compare Belgian griffon, Brabançon, Brussels griffon.
2. Also called wirehaired pointing griffon. one of a Dutch breed of medium-sized dogs having a coarse, steel-gray or grayish-white coat with chestnut markings, used for pointing and retrieving birds.

griffon

¹

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. a variant of griffin 1

griffon

²

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. any of various small wire-haired breeds of dog, originally from Belgium
2. any large vulture of the genus Gyps, of Africa, S Europe, and SW Asia, having a pale plumage with black wings: family Accipitridae (hawks)

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffon¹

1350–1400; Middle English griffoun < French; griffin ¹

Origin of griffon²

1820–30; < French; akin to griffin ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffon¹

C19: from French: griffin ¹

Example Sentences

Kodi the griffon mix, who plays Cosmos in the Swiss comedy-drama, narrowly beat Xin, a sighthound who instead wagged away with the Grand Jury Prize for the Chinese drama “Black Dog.”

From Seattle Times

But a petit basset griffon Vendéen took best in show for the first time last year, as did a bloodhound in 2022.

From Seattle Times

Cyprus Game and Fauna Service spokesman Nicos Kasinis told The Associated Press the tracking devices are necessary to observe whether the young birds are integrating well in the first, crucial weeks with the island’s 29 other griffon vultures.

From Seattle Times

A further 15 griffon vultures will be brought over from Spain and released to the wild next year.

From Seattle Times

Griffon vultures are a resident species in Cyprus but their population has dwindled to dangerously low numbers.

From Seattle Times