Word Study
gyrfalcon
CIDE DICTIONARY
gyrfalcon, n. [OE. gerfaucon, OF. gerfaucon, LL. gyrofalco, perh. fr. L. gyrus circle + falco falcon, and named from its circling flight; or cf. E. gier-eagle. See Gyre, n. , Falcon.].
One of several species and varieties of large Arctic falcons, esp. Falco rusticolus and the white species Falco Islandicus , both of which are circumpolar. The black and the gray are varieties of the former. See Illust. of Accipiter. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gyrfalcon, n. (also gerfalcon) a large falcon, Falco rusticolus, of the northern hemisphere.
Etymology
ME f. OF gerfaucon f. Frank. gerfalco f. ON geirf{aacute}lki: see FALCON
ROGET THESAURUS
gyrfalcon
Evil doer
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