[ 'fɔ:(l)k(ə)nɪt ]
■ noun
1》 historical a light cannon.
2》 a very small South Asian (or South American) falcon, typically with bold black-and-white plumage. [Genus Microhierax .]
Origin
C16: sense 1 from Ital. ~to , dimin. of falcone , from L. falco (see falcon ): sense 2 from falcon + -et 1 .