peregrine

/ˈpɛrəgrən/

Other forms: 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

   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

   relating to persons or groups who travel in search of food or work; migratory
   “believed the profession of a peregrine typist would have a happy future”

   synonyms: mobile, nomadic, roving, wandering

   unsettled

   not settled or established