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. 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)

griffon

²

/ ˈɡrɪfən /

noun

1. See griffin
   a variant of griffin 1

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

“Pea Tear Griffon” is singing what goes up must come down while reading Nathaniel Hawthorne.

From The Daily Beast

The illustration represents one of the rocky gorges so plentiful in Palestine, inhabited by a number of Griffon Vultures.

From Project Gutenberg

Or have you the griffon vulture's wings that you may fly over mountains?

From Project Gutenberg

A thousand desires hotter than flame bound my eyes to the relucent eyes which only upon the griffon were standing fixed.

From Project Gutenberg

V'l le griffon qui prend une voltigeante pour broder sur du mince.

From Project Gutenberg

His Majesty brought with him his little griffon dog, and immediately on arriving he asked for port wine and sandwiches.

From Project Gutenberg