Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A fabulous beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In mythology, an imaginary animal supposed to be generated between the lion and the eagle, and to combine the head, front, and wings of an eagle with the body and hind quarters of a lion.
  • noun In ornithology, a vulture of the genus Gyps; a griffin-vulture.
  • noun Figuratively, a vigilant or repellent guardian; one who stands in the way of free approach or intercourse: in England applied especially to a woman acting as a duenna.
  • noun In India and the East generally: A person not familiar with the customs or ways of the country; a new-comer; a novice; a greenhorn.
  • noun A racing pony or horse that runs for its first time. Also griff, in both uses.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An Anglo-Indian name for a person just arrived from Europe.
  • noun (Myth.) A fabulous monster, half lion and half eagle. It is often represented in Grecian and Roman works of art.
  • noun (Her.) A representation of this creature as an heraldic charge.
  • noun (Zoöl.) A species of large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor; -- called also gripe, and grype. It is supposed to be the “eagle” of the Bible. The bearded griffin is the lammergeir.
  • noun An English early apple.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A mythical beast having the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.
  • noun dated, Anglo-Indian A person who has just arrived from Europe.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun winged monster with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English griffoun, from Old French griffon, from grif, from Latin grȳpus, grȳphus, variants of grȳps, grȳp-, from Greek grūps.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French griffon, from Latin gryphus, from Ancient Greek γρύψ (grups).

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Examples

  • It's one of the big things I took away from the trailer, meaning that, for my money, I think the baby griffin is going to die horribly and leave that kid weeping, struggling to become an adult.

    Poll Results! SVGL 2009

  • The griffin is also used by Saab, and other mythical beasts goaded into service on motor cars must include Alfa Romeo's serpent, Talbot's hunting dog and the Gilbern's Welsh dragon.

    Badge Engineering Peter Ashley 2008

  • Interviewer: What do you think of when you hear the word griffin?

    IOM 123-194 (last entry) -UPDATED with comments Miss Snark 2005

  • The griffin is also said to be feirce and untamed.

    Another Quiz – mythical animals 2002

  • A formidable creature half lion and half eagle, the griffin is said to be one thousand times stronger than any lion and five thousand times as arsighted as an eagle.

    Another Quiz – mythical animals 2002

  • Firkin & Gryphon - pronounced "griffin" - is expected to open in the fall, said Peter

    National Business News - Local Business News | bizjournals 2010

  • Also, these lyrics were written by kevin griffin, lead singer of better than ezra, and I’m pretty sure he’s not in high school.

    Hope for Haiti Now Telethon Benefit Concert: Tonight, January 22 at 8 PM (Video) 2010

  • “One other thing: If anyone asks you what a griffin is, you must answer that a griffin is a mythical creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.”

    Why Fantasy Football Matters Erik Barmack 2006

  • “One other thing: If anyone asks you what a griffin is, you must answer that a griffin is a mythical creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion.”

    Why Fantasy Football Matters Erik Barmack 2006

  • A griffin was a Eghting animal, almost as fierce as a dragon; unicorns did not normally seek combat with this species.

    Juxtaposition Anthony, Piers 1982

Comments

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  • "Pea . . . . tear . . . . griffin. Peter Griffin"

    March 3, 2007