Gyrfalcon
/ˈdʒɜːrˌfɔːlkən/noun
A large, powerful falcon of the Arctic and subarctic regions.
Did you know?The first element of gyrfalcon comes from Old Norse *geirr* (“hawk”), so the name is basically a layered raptor-title preserved through centuries of hunting culture.
Etymological Timeline
Old Norse
ON
geirr
“hawk”
Middle English
ME
gerfalcon
“a large falcon, especially a hunting bird”
16th Century
English
gyrfalcon
“a large northern falcon”
Modern English
English
gyrfalcon
“a large Arctic falcon”