griffin (grifin)

[Also written griffon, gryphon, and formerly gryfon; Medieval Griffin.- Porch of the Duomo, Verona, Italy. M griffoun = D. griffoen, grifon, F. grif fon = Pr. grifó, now griffoun = Sp. grifon = It. grifone, fo ( n- ), time. Also griff, in both uses. - Bearded griffin, the lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus. Griffin's egg, a name given in the middle ages to any large egg of a bird unknown to the people of Europe, as the ostrich or emu. Such eggs were used in ornamental work, as for cups. Order of the Griffin, an order of the grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, founded in 1884.-Rüppell's griffin, an Aby in i an vulture, Gyps rueppelli.