Birds of prey like eagles, hawks, and falcons that hunt other animals; or fierce, predatory creatures in general.
From Latin 'rapere' (to seize, to snatch). The word entered English from Old French 'raptour,' originally describing birds that snatch their food from the sky or ground.
The word raptor comes from the Latin verb 'rapere' (to seize)—the same root gives us 'rape,' 'rapture,' and 'kidnap'! All these words describe something being suddenly grabbed or taken, which perfectly describes how a hawk snatches a mouse from the ground.
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