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

The ability to associate causes with effects—encroaching shadows with dive-bombing falcons, cacti with hidden water sources—gives organisms a leg up on predators and competitors.

From Nautilus

Olear said peregrine falcons go from “helpless little chicks to fledging” in about 44 days, but they are also vulnerable to predators.

From Washington Post

Peregrine falcons do not make a nest with sticks and grass, but instead etch or scrape a spot on a rock ledge to lay eggs.

From Washington Post

A new breed of falcons soars back from brink of extinction in VirginiaIn 1999, peregrine falcons were taken off the endangered species list, although they are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

From Washington Post

The falcons would prey on small birds that had ingested poisoned insects, and that caused the female falcons to produce eggs that did not have enough calcium, making them crack easily.

From Washington Post

And that original score that kicks in as a new-age Millennium Falcon swoops into view is sure to get you going.

From The Daily Beast

She went as calm as a hooded falcon after he covered her head with the sheet.

From The Daily Beast

The SpaceX Falcon 9v1.1, all privately funded, all domestically sourced, can carry 28,990 lbs.

From The Daily Beast

But the Falcon is not yet Air Force certified for military and intelligence payloads.

From The Daily Beast

They are the Tarpon, the Falcon, the Sea Fox, and the Octopus.

From The Daily Beast

Hurrying on to find it, Taijo discovered a hut beside the path, into which he saw the falcon fly.

From Project Gutenberg

A few miles in advance of the island stands the beautiful Falcon Rock, like a sentinel upon the look-out.

From Project Gutenberg

He sets out, and on his journey finds a lion, a wolf, and a falcon disputing over the carcase of a horse.

From Project Gutenberg

When Aurelian consulted the god of Palmyra (still in spite of Baltus), the god said that the doves fear the falcon.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever might happen, the god would not be embarrassed; the falcon would be the conqueror, and the doves the conquered.

From Project Gutenberg