Griffin
/ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/noun
A legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes through Latin and Greek from a likely Semitic source related to the Hebrew/Aramaic word for a griffin-like monster, showing how ancient Near Eastern myth traveled into Greek and then into English.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Semitic
*krub-/*gryp-
“A likely source for a griffin-like mythic creature; exact early form is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gryps
“A griffin or hooked-beaked mythical beast.”
Late Latin
Latin
gryphus
“A griffin.”
Old French
French
grifon
“A griffin.”
Middle English
English
griffin
“A fabulous winged creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.”