griffin
English
/ɡɹɪfɪn/
noun
Definitions
- A mythical beast having the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.
- A large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, supposed to be the "eagle" of the Bible.
- An English variety of apple.
- (dated) A person who has just arrived from Europe.
- A cadet newly arrived in British India: half English, half Indian.
- A watchful guardian, especially a duenna in charge of a young woman.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English griffoun derived from Old French griffon derived from Latin gryphus derived from Ancient Greek γρύψ (grps).
Origin
Ancient Greek
γρύψ
Gloss
grps
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- fly English
- griffiness English
- griffinfly English
- griffinish English
- griffinism English
- gryphus Latin
- gryphus, gryps, grȳphus Latin
- gryps Latin
- grȳphus Latin
- Gryph German
- γρύψ Ancient Greek
- *ger- Proto-Indo-European
- gryf Polish
- griffoun Middle English
- grif Old French
- griffon Old French
- gríb Old Irish
- griffin Chinese Pidgin English