falcon

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

noun

1. any of several birds of prey of the family Falconidae, especially of the genus Falco, usually distinguished by long, pointed wings, a hooked beak with a toothlike notch on each side of the upper bill, and swift, agile flight, typically diving to seize prey: some falcon species are close to extinction.
2. Falconry.
   1. the female gyrfalcon.
   2. falcon-gentle.
   3. any bird of prey trained for use in falconry. Compare tercel.
3. a small, light cannon in use from the 15th to the 17th century.
4. Falcon, Military. a family of air-to-air guided missiles, some of them capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

falcon

/ ˈfɔːkən; ˈfɔːlkən /

noun

1. any diurnal bird of prey of the family Falconidae , esp any of the genus Falco (gyrfalcon, peregrine falcon, etc), typically having pointed wings and a long tail
2. 1. any of these or related birds, trained to hunt small game
   2. the female of such a bird Compare tercel falconine
3. a light-medium cannon used from the 15th to 17th centuries

Other Words From

• fal·co·nine [fawl, -k, uh, -nahyn, -nin, fal, -, faw, -k, uh, -], adjective
• falco·noid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of falcon¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English fauco(u)n, falcon, from Anglo-French, Old French faucon, from Late Latin falcōn- (stem of falcō ) “hawk” (said to be derivative of falx, stem falc- “sickle,” referring to the sicklelike talons)

Word History and Origins

Origin of falcon¹

C13: from Old French faucon , from Late Latin falcō hawk, probably of Germanic origin; perhaps related to Latin falx sickle

Example Sentences

When news a rare American songbird had been spotted in a sleepy West Yorkshire cul-de-sac eager ornithologists converged on the quiet street faster than a falcon in free fall.

From BBC

You might spot a peregrine falcon or other raptor, including kestrels, which nest there.

From Los Angeles Times

Nankeen Kestrels are a small species of falcon native to Australia.

From BBC

He describes how he watched a nearby car hit and kill a bear cub while on a day trip hunting with a falcon.

From BBC

The number of peregrine falcons at Yosemite National Park has soared over the past 15 years since the launch of a protection plan for the once-endangered raptors that nest in the park’s cliffs and peaks.

From Los Angeles Times