An archaic or dialect spelling of 'griffin,' a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.
From Old French 'griffon,' ultimately from Latin 'gryphus' and Greek 'gryphos' (hooked or curved, referring to the eagle's beak). The spelling 'griffaun' reflects medieval and Middle English phonetic variations, particularly in Irish or Scottish English.
Medieval spellings of the same word varied wildly—there were 'griffins,' 'griffons,' 'griffauns,' and dozens of other versions—because spelling wasn't standardized until the printing press made consistency possible.
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