Raptor
/ˈræp.tər/noun
A bird of prey, especially a hawk, eagle, falcon, or owl.
Did you know?In Latin, *raptor* named a creature that seizes and carries off prey, and its root is the same ancient idea of violent grabbing that also gave English *rapture* and *rapacious*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rep-
“to snatch, seize, or carry off”
Latin
Latin
rapere
“to seize, snatch, carry off by force”
Latin
Latin
raptor
“a snatcher; a robber; a bird of prey”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
raptor
“a bird of prey”
Modern English
English
raptor
“a bird of prey, especially a hawk, eagle, falcon, or owl”