Falcon
/ˈfɔːl.kən/noun
A bird of prey known for its speed and hunting ability.
Did you know?In medieval Europe, falcons were so prized that falconry became a status ritual of nobility, and the word’s history tracks the bird’s rise as a symbol of elite power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to strike, beat, or drive”
Latin
Latin
falco
“falcon; literally, a bird with hooked talons”
Late Latin
Latin
falconem
“a falcon”
Old French
Old French
faucon
“falcon”
Middle English
English
faucon
“a falcon”
Modern English
English
falcon
“a falcon”