peregrine hawk

1 definition found

peregrine hawk - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Peregrine \Per"e*grine\ (p[e^]r"[-e]*gr[i^]n; 277), a. [L.
     peregrinus. See Pilgrim.]
     Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic.
     [Spelt also pelegrine.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat."
     --Bacon.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Peregrine falcon (Zool.), a courageous and swift falcon
        (Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution
        over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish
        ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks,
        white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called
        also peregrine hawk, duck hawk, game hawk, and
        great-footed hawk.
        [1913 Webster]