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peregrine

peregrines

A peregrine is a fairly common type of raptor, or hunting bird. While peregrines are about the size of a crow, they are much fiercer predators.

You can also call a peregrine a peregrine falcon. In falconry, the training of hawks and falcons for hunting, peregrines are popular. These birds are found everywhere on earth with just a few exceptions. The word peregrine has a Latin root, peregrinus, "coming from foreign parts" — these birds tend to be caught during migration rather than taken from the nest. Peregrine is also used to simply mean "migratory" or "foreign."

Definitions of peregrine
  1. noun
    a widely distributed falcon formerly used in falconry
    synonyms: Falco peregrinus, peregrine falcon
    see moresee less
    types:
    falcon-gentil, falcon-gentle
    female falcon especially a female peregrine falcon
    type of:
    falcon
    diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight
  2. adjective
    migratory
    “believed the profession of a peregrine typist would have a happy future”
    synonyms: mobile, nomadic, roving, wandering
    unsettled
    not settled or established
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘peregrine'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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