Etymology
Advertisement

vulture (n.)

late 14c., from Anglo-French vultur, Old French voutoir, voutre (Modern French vautour), from Latin vultur, earlier voltur, perhaps related to vellere "to pluck, to tear" (see svelte). Figurative sense is recorded from 1580s. Related: Vulturine; vulturous.

Entries linking to vulture

svelte (adj.)

"slender, lithe," 1817, svelt, from French svelte "slim, slender" (17c.), from Italian svelto "slim, slender," originally "pulled out, lengthened," past participle of svellere "to pluck or root out," from Vulgar Latin *exvellere, from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + vellere "to pluck, stretch," from PIE *wel-no-, suffixed form of *uelh- "to strike" (source also of Hittite ualh- "to hit, strike," Greek aliskomai "to be caught").

turkey-vulture (n.)

1823, from turkey + vulture. From 1670s as turkey-buzzard.

updated on March 19, 2014

Advertisement
Advertisement

Dictionary entries near vulture

Vulgate

vulnerability

vulnerable

Vulpecula

vulpine

vulture

vulva

VW

W

W.C.

WAC

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper