# falcon

/ˈfæɫkən/ (US) · /fˈælkən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/falcon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR B2

a bird of prey with long, pointed wings that is known for flying very fast to catch other animals.

For teachers: any bird of the genus Falco, typically characterized by a hooked beak and long, pointed wings adapted for high-speed flight.

- The falcon dived from the sky at high speed to catch its prey.
- The peregrine falcon is renowned as the fastest member of the animal kingdom, reaching speeds of over three hundred kilometres per hour during its hunting stoop.

### 2. historical weapon

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a small, light type of cannon used hundreds of years ago.

For teachers: a light piece of ordnance or cannon utilized between the 15th and 17th centuries.

- The museum displayed an old falcon used to defend the castle walls.
- The inventory of the 16th-century fortress listed several falcons among the lighter artillery pieces stationed along the ramparts.

### 3. to hunt

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to hunt animals using a trained falcon.

For teachers: to engage in the sport of hunting with the aid of trained birds of prey.

- In the past, kings and queens would often go out to falcon in the woods.
- The nobility would frequently falcon across the open moors, a practice that required years of patient training for both the bird and the handler.

## Examples

- The falcon dives quickly to catch its prey.
- The falconer released the bird into the air to demonstrate its impressive hunting skills to the crowd.
- High above the canyon walls, the peregrine falcon scanned the horizon for movement, ready to execute a high-speed dive that can reach over two hundred miles per hour.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.