peregrine

adjective

per·​e·​grine ˈper-ə-grən 

-ˌgrēn

: having a tendency to wander

Did you know?

The current meaning of peregrine has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings. The word originally meant "foreign," as did its Latin predecessor peregrinus. But even before peregrine appeared on its own in English, it was part of the name of that well-known bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. The bird's appellation derives from "falco peregrinus"—literally, "pilgrim falcon" in Medieval Latin. Peregrine falcons typically nest in high places, such as on cliff ledges or, in modern times, city skyscrapers. Because of the nests' inaccessibility, medieval falconers who wanted young peregrine falcons to train had to capture them on their first flights or migratory "pilgrimages." That practice led to a new sense of "peregrine" ("engaged in or traveling on a pilgrimage"), which was later broadened to "wandering."

Synonyms

• ambulant
• ambulatory
• errant
• fugitive
• gallivanting
• galavanting
• itinerant
• nomad
• nomadic
• perambulatory
• peripatetic
• ranging
• roaming
• roving
• vagabond
• vagrant
• wandering
• wayfaring

Examples of peregrine in a Sentence

a loyal cadre of peregrine workers who follow the presidential candidate from primary to primary

Word History

Etymology

Middle French peregrin, from Medieval Latin peregrinus, from Latin, foreign — more at pilgrim

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing peregrine

• peregrine falcon

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