lammergeier

American  

[lam-er-gahy-er, -gahy^uhr] / ˈlæm ərˌgaɪ ər, -ˌgaɪər /

Or lammergeyer,

noun

1. the largest Eurasian bird of prey, Gypaëtus barbatus, ranging in the mountains from southern Europe to China, having a wingspread of 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3 meters) and black feathers hanging from below the bill like a mustache.

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lammergeier British  

/ ˈlæməˌɡaɪə /

noun

1. Also called: bearded vulture.  (archaic): ossifrage.  a rare vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, of S Europe, Africa, and Asia, with dark wings, a pale breast, and black feathers around the bill: family Accipitridae (hawks)

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Etymology

Origin of lammergeier

1810–20; < German Lämmergeier literally, lambs' vulture (from its preying on lambs), equivalent to Lämmer, plural of Lamm lamb + Geier vulture (cognate with Dutch gier )

Example Sentences

France Joris-Karl Huysmans A rebours // against nature lammergeier can't remember This book is one of those voyages into the unknown of your own self and of Huysman's fantasy..

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2011

A lammergeier swooped down on wide funereal wings; it peered at us; darted away toward the cliffs.

From The Metal Monster by Merritt, Abraham

McKay saw the rock-eagles alight heavily on the shelf, then, squealing defiance, hulk forward, undeterred by the hobgoblin tumult of the lammergeier.

From In Secret by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

The awful, witch-like screaming of the lammergeier saluted the falling darkness where he squatted, a huge huddle of unclean plumage amid the debris of decay and death.

From In Secret by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)

The lammergeier, as they call it in the Alpine regions.

From Yussuf the Guide The Mountain Bandits; Strange Adventure in Asia Minor by Schonberg, John