vulturineadj.
/ˈvʌltʃᵿrʌɪn/, U.S. /ˈvəltʃərən/ 1. Of or belonging to the vulture tribe; resembling a vulture:
a. In names of birds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Falconiformes (falcons, etc.) > family Accipitridae (hawks, etc.) > [adjective] > of or relating to a vulture > belonging to or like a vulture
vulturine1647
vulturish1826
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Evangelists & Acts (Matt. xxiv. 28) The vulturine eagles especially..follow armies, and feed on carcases.
1678 J. Ray tr. F. Willughby Ornithol. 64 The Vulturine Eagle of Aldrovandus, called Percnopteros.
1809 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. VII. 58 Vulturine Eagle, Falco vulturinus.
1809 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. VII. 343 Vulturine Raven, Corvus vulturinus.
1849 Sketches Nat. Hist.: Mammalia III. 48 The vulturine eagle..makes the mountain precipices its abode.
1872 E. Coues Key to N. Amer. Birds 21 A little orbital space is bare in many birds, as the vulturine hawks, and some pigeons.
1880 Cassell's Nat. Hist. III. 313 On the coast the chief enemy of the Parrots is the Vulturine Sea-Eagle (Gypohierax angolensis).
b. In general use. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > inordinate or excessive desire > [adjective] > rapacious
ravenousc1425
rapinous1484
ravening1548
rapacious1572
scambling1600
large-handeda1616
tenter-hooking1615
vulturizing1650
vulturian1659
leech-like1682
vulturine1721
vulturish1826
vulturous1843
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > [adjective]
ravenousc1425
rapinous1484
polling1526
spoiling1565
predatory1589
pilling1590
spoilful1590
plundering1641
vulturian1659
predatitious1660
pillagingc1670
vulturine1721
predal1737
depredatory1771
spoliatory1790
predatorial1791
plunderous1797
spoliating1840
accipitral1842
despoiling1859
spoliative1875
predative1920
prehensile1927
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Vulturine,..rapacious.
1790 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. i. 58 He..sells it at five shillings,..thus happily disappointing the rapacity of the vulturine monopolizer.
1843 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 211 Even the petticoated torch-bearers from rotten Rome,..if more blustering,..were less bitter and vulturine.
1880 A. C. Swinburne Study of Shakespeare 207 But the virtuous critic, after the alleged nature of the vulturine kind, would appear to have eyes and ears and nose for nothing else.
1886 F. H. H. Guillemard Cruise Marchesa II. 219 The rare Pesquet's Parrot,..half vulturine in appearance and with the face and throat bare.
2. Of or pertaining to a vulture or vultures; characteristic of, like that of, a vulture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Falconiformes (falcons, etc.) > family Accipitridae (hawks, etc.) > [adjective] > of or relating to a vulture
vulturine1656
1656 T. Blount Glossographia Vulturine, pertaining to the ravenous Bird called a Vulture.
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words Vulturine, belonging to a Vultur or Geyr.
1852 Zoologist 10 3646 It has..the real vulturine fondness for carrion.
1855 C. Kingsley Sir W. Raleigh in Misc. (1860) I. 31 There is no more to be discovered in the matter, save by the vulturine nose which smells a carrion in every rose-bed.
1882 E. O'Donovan Merv Oasis II. 130 An uneasy, vulturine expression of the eye, the pupil being quite surrounded by the white.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1647