Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Falcon” come from?

Falcon comes from Spanish Falcón, which derives from a source meaning "sickle-shaped" or referring to the bird's curved talons, though the exact etymology of the Spanish term remains uncertain.

Ancestry of “Falcon”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishfaucounA peregrine falcon or any other bird of prey...
2Old FrenchfalcunAlternative form of faucon
3Late Latinfalcofalcon
4Proto-West Germanicfalkōfalcon
5Proto-Germanicfalkôfalcon
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpōl-—
7Slovincianpól—
8Proto-Slavicpolъside, flank; half; member of a pair of options →...
9Proto-Indo-European(s)pelH-to split off, separate; to chop, to separate
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pelH- →