griffin

IPA/ˈɡrɪfɪn/
KK[ɡrˈɪfɪn]IPA/ˈɡrɪfɪn/

griffin — noun

  • griffinsingular
  • griffinsplural

1. an imaginary flying animal from ancient stories and legends, with an eagle's hea

1.nounB1
Definition

an imaginary flying animal from ancient stories and legends, with an eagle's head, front legs, and wings joined to a lion's body, back legs, and tail — often shown guarding treasure or sacred places in art and literature.

Example

The knight had a golden griffin painted on his shield before the battle.

collocation: a golden griffin

A stone griffin with its wings spread wide stood above the castle's main gate.

collocation: a stone griffin

Common collocations
  • golden griffin
  • stone griffin
  • winged griffin
  • griffin statue
  • guard like a griffin
Synonyms
  • griffon

    alternative common spelling, especially in French-influenced contexts

  • gryphon

    another spelling variant, popular in fantasy novels and games

Usage Note

Common in fantasy literature, heraldry, and art history. Often appears as part of a coat of arms or as a decorative stone carving on old buildings. The word may also be spelled 'griffon' or 'gryphon' in older texts.

Common Mistakes

A griffin has a head of a lion and body of an eagle.
A griffin has an eagle's head and a lion's body.
the eagle part is the head and front; the lion part is the body and rear.

2. a small city in the state of Georgia, south-southeast of Atlanta, with a populat

2.noun
Definition

a small city in the state of Georgia, south-southeast of Atlanta, with a population of around 24,000 people.

Example

The train from Atlanta to Griffin takes about an hour.

travel route: from [city] to Griffin

Griffin, Georgia has a historic downtown square with shops and a courthouse.

Usage Note

Proper noun sense. Always capitalised. The city takes its name from General Lewis Griffin, a railroad executive in the 19th century.

3. Walter Burley Griffin (1876–1937), an American architect and landscape designer

3.noun
Definition

Walter Burley Griffin (1876–1937), an American architect and landscape designer best known for his design of Canberra, the capital city of Australia.

Example

Walter Burley Griffin won an international competition to design Canberra in 1912.

achievement: won competition to design Canberra

Many of Walter Burley Griffin's buildings still stand in the suburbs of Sydney today.

Usage Note

Full name 'Walter Burley Griffin' is usually used on first mention; 'Griffin' alone may follow. In Australian contexts, he is remembered alongside his wife and collaborator, Marion Mahony Griffin.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to mythical hybrid creatures, but they differ in form and origin. A 'griffin' (most common spelling) has an eagle's head, front legs, and wings with a lion's body — the classic ancient guardian. 'Griffon' is a variant spelling used interchangeably with griffin, though it more often appears in medieval French contexts. 'Gryphon' is another variant, popularised by fantasy literature such as Lewis Carroll's Alice books. A 'hippogriff' is a different creature entirely: the offspring of a griffin and a horse, with an eagle's head and wings but the body and legs of a horse. In stories, griffins are fierce and majestic guardians, while hippogriffs are tamer and can be befriended by heroes. For example, a griffin might sit atop a treasure hoard and attack any thief, whereas a hippogriff might carry a knight on its back.

griffin ↗griffon ↗gryphon ↗hippogriff

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'griffin' comes from Old French 'grifon', which was adopted from Latin 'gryphus' or 'gryp(h)us', which in turn comes from Greek 'gryps' (γρύψ). The Greek root may be related to 'grypos' (γρυπός), meaning 'curved, hooked' — a reference to the eagle's strongly curved beak. The creature appears in ancient Greek and Persian art as a guardian figure, and the word entered English through stories of mythical beasts in the Middle Ages.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above