halcyon

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.

   Renege; affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks / With every gale and vary of their masters,.

2. 2
   adj

   Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.

   Reflections of this kind may have trifling weight with men who hope to see realized in America the halcyon scenes of the poetic or fabulous age.

Simplified etymology

Halcyon entered English in the late Middle English period from Greek alkuōn, “kingfisher.” Medieval tradition held that this bird nested on the sea and calmed the wind and waves while breeding; this belief produced halcyon days for a spell of calm weather, later broadened to an idyllically happy and peaceful period.

Inherited from Middle English Alceoun, from Latin halcyōn, alcyōn (“kingfisher”), from Ancient Greek ἀλκυών (alkuṓn).

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