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.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Falcon entered Middle English directly from French in the form faucun. Its modern spelling appeared in the 16th century under the influence of Late Latin falco, probably related to Latin falx, “sickle,” in reference to the bird’s curved claws. The inserted l was historically silent in English and remained so for some speakers into the 20th century.

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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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary