A large Arctic falcon with gray or white plumage, the largest falcon species.
From Old Norse 'geirfalki' (spear falcon), combining 'geirr' (spear) and 'falki' (falcon). The word spread through Scandinavian languages and into English via medieval falconry terminology.
Medieval European nobles would pay fortunes for gyrfalcons—they were literally more valuable than land in some cases, making them the ultimate status symbol for kings and emperors.
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