griffe

¹

[ grif ]

noun

, Chiefly Louisiana.

1. the offspring of a Black person and a mulatto.
2. a person of mixed Black and American Indian ancestry.
3. a mulatto, especially a woman.

griffe

²

[ grif ]

noun

, Architecture.

1. an ornament at the base of a column, projecting from the torus toward a corner of the plinth.

griffe

/ ɡrɪf /

noun

1. architect a carved ornament at the base of a column, often in the form of a claw

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffe¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1715–25; from Louisiana French, from Caribbean Spanish grifo “curly-haired”

Origin of griffe²

1870–75; < French: claw < Germanic

Word History and Origins

Origin of griffe¹

C19: from French: claw, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

The nurse, a comfortable looking Griffe woman in white apron and cap, was urging her to return to her bedroom.

From Literature

The city had a unique, convoluted race and color taxonomy that included the designations of free person of color, slave, mulatto, griffe, quadroon, metis and sang-mêlé.

From Washington Post

It was the smell of luxurious soap, ferried back from a European cruise by a grandmother, setting in motion a lifelong obsession with Carven’s Ma Griffe, Chanel No. 5, and her very first scent, acquired at age 6: Lanvin’s Arpege.

From Washington Post

Cartoonist Lesco Griffe posted this illustration bearing the famous British motto, while novelist Tony Parsons was among those who posted this "quote of the day" sign from a London Tube station.

From BBC

On his bill of sale, it says that he is a griffe, a person of African and Native American descent.

From New York Times