lammergeier

or lam·mer·gey·er, lam·mer·geir

[ lam-er-gahy-er, -gahyuhr ]

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.

lammergeier

/ ˈlæməˌɡaɪə /

noun

1. 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) Also calledbearded vulture (archaic)ossifrage

Word History and Origins

Origin of lammergeier¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lammergeier¹

C19: from German Lämmergeier, from Lämmer lambs + Geier vulture

Example Sentences

In English, the bearded vulture is also known as the lammergeier – German for “lamb vulture” – because of the false old belief that they killed sheep and lambs.

From The Guardian

Dale Kedward, who filmed the lammergeier, said: "I thought it was going to pick up my dog, it was that big."

From BBC

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

From Project Gutenberg

In this volume no descriptions of scaling ice-walls, searching for the lammergeiers' nests, or any other great feats, will be found.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg