( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually aerie ) / ˈɪəri; ˈeəri; ˈaɪəri; NAmE ˈɪri; ˈeri/ noun
1.
a nest that is built high up among rocks by a bird of prey (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) such as an eagle
2.
a room or building in a high place that is often difficult to reach and from which sb can see what is happening below
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from medieval Latin aeria , aerea , eyria , probably from Old French aire , from Latin area level piece of ground, in late Latin nest of a bird of prey.