different between griffin vs hypergriff

English

Alternative forms

• grifon, gryfon (obsolete)
• gryphon
• griffon

Etymology

From Middle English griffoun, from Old French griffon, from Latin gryphus, from Ancient Greek ???? (grúps).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???f?n/
• Rhymes: -?f?n

Noun

griffin (plural griffins)

1. A mythical beast having the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.
2. A large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, supposed to be the "eagle" of the Bible.
3. An English variety of apple.
4. (dated, India) A person who has just arrived from Europe.
5. A cadet newly arrived in British India: half English, half Indian.
6. A watchful guardian, especially a duenna in charge of a young woman.

Derived terms

• bearded griffin (Gypaetus barbatus)
• griffinish
• griffinism

Descendants

• Chinese Pidgin English: griffin

Translations

References

Anagrams

• riffing

Chinese Pidgin English

Etymology

From English griffin (“newcomer to India”).

Noun

griffin

1. A person who spent less than a year in China.
2. A racing pony in its first season.

References

• Gow, W. S. P. (1924) Gow’s Guide to Shanghai, 1924: A Complete, Concise and Accurate Handbook of the City and District, Especially Compiled for the Use of Tourists and Commercial Visitors to the Far East, Shanghai, page 105:

  Griffin: (Anglo-Indian) a newcomer. One with less than a years’^[sic] residence in China. Also a racing pony in his first season. (“China ponies” are bred in Mongolia and brought down annually).