Griffin

Griffin
/grif"in/, n.
1. a city in W Georgia. 20,728.
2. a male given name.

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▪ mythological creature
also spelled  griffon , or  gryphon 

      composite mythological creature with a lion's body (winged or wingless) and a bird's head, usually that of an eagle. The griffin was a favourite decorative motif in the ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean lands. Probably originating in the Levant in the 2nd millennium BC, the griffin had spread throughout western Asia and into Greece by the 14th century BC. The Asiatic griffin had a crested head, whereas the Minoan and Greek griffin usually had a mane of spiral curls. It was shown either recumbent or seated on its haunches, often paired with the sphinx; its function may have been protective.

      In the Iron Age the griffin was again prominent in both Asia and Greece. Greek metalworkers evolved a handsome stylized rendering, the beak open to show a curling tongue and the head provided with horses' ears and a large knob on top. Apparently the griffin was in some sense sacred, appearing frequently in sanctuary and tomb furnishings. Its precise nature or its place in cult and legend remains unknown.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Griffin — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Adrian Griffin (* 1974), US amerikanischer Basketballspieler Alan Griffin (* 1960), australischer Politiker Andy Griffin (* 1979), englischer Fußballspieler Angela Griffin (* 1976), englische… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Griffin — Griffin, GA U.S. city in Georgia Population (2000): 23451 Housing Units (2000): 9636 Land area (2000): 14.520335 sq. miles (37.607494 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.077816 sq. miles (0.201542 sq. km) Total area (2000): 14.598151 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Griffin — Grif fin, Griffon Grif fon, n. [OE. griffin, griffon, griffoun, F. griffon, fr. L. gryphus, equiv to gryps, Gr. ?; so called because of the hooked beak, and akin to grypo s curved, hook nosed.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Myth.) A fabulous monster, half… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Griffin, GA — U.S. city in Georgia Population (2000): 23451 Housing Units (2000): 9636 Land area (2000): 14.520335 sq. miles (37.607494 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.077816 sq. miles (0.201542 sq. km) Total area (2000): 14.598151 sq. miles (37.809036 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Griffin, IN — U.S. town in Indiana Population (2000): 160 Housing Units (2000): 81 Land area (2000): 0.067702 sq. miles (0.175347 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.067702 sq. miles (0.175347 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • griffin — griffin, griffon, gryphon A griffin (also spelt many other ways, e.g. griffon and, e.g. by Lewis Carroll, gryphon) is ‘a fabulous creature with an eagle s head and wings and a lion s body’. A griffon is (1) a small dog like a terrier, and (2) a… …   Modern English usage

  • griffin — [grif′in] n. [ME griffon < OFr grifoun < OHG or It grifo, both < L gryphus, earlier gryps < Gr gryps, griffin < grypos, hooked, curved (prob. so called from its hooked beak) < IE base * ger > CRANK1] a mythical monster with… …   English World dictionary

  • Griffin — Grif fin, n. An Anglo Indian name for a person just arrived from Europe. H. Kingsley …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Griffin [1] — Griffin, Gerald, geb. 1803 zu Limerick in Irland, widmete sich der Literatur u. wendete sich 1823 nach London, wo jedoch seine beiden Trauerspiele Aguise u. Gysippus nicht aufgeführt wurden. Nach zweijähriger Noth gelang es ihm, Mitarbeiter an… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Griffin [2] — Griffin, Stadt in der Grafschaft Pike des Staates Georgia (Nordamerika) an der Macon Western Eisenbahn; Handel, namentlich in Baumwolle, 4 Kirchen; 4000 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Griffin — Griffin, Hauptstadt der Grafschaft Spalding im nordamerikan. Staat Georgia, Bahnknotenpunkt, mit College, starkem Baumwollhandel u. (1900) 6857 Einw …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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