falcon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a fast-flying bird of prey of the genus Falco, with long pointed wings and a hooked beak

   A falcon circled above the cliffs before diving toward the shore.

2. 2
   verb

   to hunt wild animals with a trained falcon or other bird of prey

   The visitors learned how medieval nobles would falcon across the open plain.

From Middle English falcon, through Old French faucon from Late Latin falco. The deeper origin is disputed: it has been connected both with a Germanic falcon word family and with Latin falx, 'sickle,' in reference to the bird's curved beak or talons.

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