peregrine
/ˈpɛrɪɡrɪn
/noun
(also peregrine falcon) A powerful falcon found on most continents, breeding chiefly on mountains and coastal cliffs and much used for falconry.
- Falco peregrinus, family Falconidae.
- And there are more raptors about: falcons, peregrines, sparrowhawks.
- Raptors - particularly buzzards, sparrowhawks and peregrines - are in abundance in the Scottish countryside.
adjective archaic
Coming from another country; foreign or outlandish: peregrine species of grass
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin peregrinus 'foreign', from peregre 'abroad', from per- 'through' + ager 'field'. The falcon's name is a translation of the modern Latin taxonomic name, literally 'pilgrim falcon', because falconers' birds were caught fully grown on migration, not taken from the nest.