Buteoninae
/ˌbjuːtiəˈniː/noun
A taxonomic subfamily of hawks in the family Accipitridae, commonly including buzzards and related buteonine raptors.
Did you know?The name preserves a Latin bird word, but its deeper Greek origin is uncertain, so the supposedly ‘secret’ meaning cannot be responsibly translated as a magical formula.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βυτίων (butíōn)
“A bird-name associated with a hawk or buzzard; the precise derivation is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
buteō
“A buzzard or hawk-like bird.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Buteo
“The genus name established for common buzzards and related soaring hawks.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Buteoninae
“A subfamily name formed from Buteo with the zoological suffix -inae, meaning a group or subfamily.”
Modern English
English
Buteoninae
“The scientific name for a subfamily of accipitrid hawks, with usage varying somewhat among modern classifications.”