US /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/ UK /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/
noun Freq #6275

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle

    A carved griffin guarded each side of the palace entrance.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a mythical creature with... griffongryphon
Word family
Forms griffins
Derived forms griffinlikehippogriff
Related forms sphinxchimeraheraldry

Etymology

From Middle English griffoun and Old French griffon, from Latin gryphus and Ancient Greek gryps, the name of the legendary eagle-lion creature. The spelling gryphon preserves another route from the same classical source.

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