Where does “gyrfalcon” come from?

gyrfalcon (English) comes from Old French gerfaucon, from Old High German gīr, from Old High German giri, from Proto-Germanic gernaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

gyrfalcon (English): Any large falcon, especially as used to fly at...

Definitions

  1. Any large falcon, especially as used to fly at...

Ancestry of “gyrfalcon”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchgerfaucon—
2Old High Germangīrvulture
3Old High Germangirigreedy
4Proto-Germanicgernazeager, willing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gernaz →Every word from Old High German giri →