/ ˈperɪgrɪn; NAmE / (also ˌperegrine ˈfalcon ) noun
a grey and white bird of prey (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) that can be trained to hunt for sport
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin peregrinus foreign, from peregre abroad, from per- through + ager field. The falcon's name is a translation of the modern Latin taxonomic name, literally pilgrim falcon , because falconers' birds were caught fully grown on migration, not taken from the nest.