falcon

falcon [fal′kən, fôl′′kən, fäl′kən, fô′kən]

n.

[ME < OFr faucon < LL falco (gen. falconis), deriv. by folk etym. < L falx (see FALCATE) because of its curved beak and talons, but prob. < Gmc * falco (OHG falcho) < IE base * pel-, FALLOW²]

1. any bird of prey trained to hunt and kill small game: in falconry the female is called a falcon, the male a tiercel

2. any of various birds of prey (family Falconidae), with long, pointed wings and a short, curved, notched beak

3. a small cannon used from the 15th to the 17th cent.