Ornithology. One of a family of the smaller diurnal birds of prey, characterized by a short hooked beak, powerful claws, and great destructive power…

a powerful falcon, Falco peregrinus, of cosmopolitan distribution, breeding chiefly on mountains and cliffs and much valued for falconry on account…

= peregrine falcon n. at sense A. 1 (see note there).

Falconry. An adult hawk, either living wild or caught for training when already in its adult plumage; spec. (esp. in early use) a female of this type…

Falconry. = passage hawk n. at passage, n. compounds 2, passager, n. Also (more fully passenger falcon): the peregrine, Falco peregrinus. Obsolete.

More fully pilgrim falcon, pilgrim hawk. The peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (see peregrine, adj. 1). Now rare.

U.S. Applied to the American variety of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus variant anatum).