lammergeier

noun

lam·​mer·​gei·​er ˈla-mər-ˌgī(-ə)r How to pronounce lammergeier (audio)
variants or lammergeyer
plural lammergeiers or lammergeyers
: a large Old World vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) that occurs in mountainous regions, has long black bristles at the base of the bill, and in flight resembles a very large falcon : bearded vulture

Examples of lammergeier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Unique among vultures, lammergeiers primarily feed on bone marrow, often dropping large bones from great heights onto rocks to crack them open. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Lämmergeier, from Lämmer lambs + Geier vulture

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lammergeier was in 1822

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Cite this Entry

“Lammergeier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lammergeier. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

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