/ ˈfɔːlkən; NAmE ˈfælkən/ noun
a bird of prey (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) with long pointed wings
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English faucon (originally denoting any diurnal bird of prey used in falconry): from Old French , from late Latin falco , from Latin falx , falc- sickle, or of Germanic origin and related to Dutch valk and German Falke . The -l- was added in the 15th cent. to conform with the Latin spelling.