Bonebreaker

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lammergeir \Lam"mer*geir\ (l[a^]m"m[~e]r*g[imac]r), Lammergeier
  \Lam"mer*gei`er\, lammergeyer \lam"mer*gey`er\
     (l[a^]m"m[~e]r*g[imac]`[~e]r), n. [G. l[aum]mmergeier; lamm,
     pl. l[aum]mmer, lamb + geier vulture.] (Zool.)
     A very large vulture ({Gypa["e]tus barbatus}), which inhabits
     the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa.


     When full-grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It
     is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty
     yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head
     and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on
     small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying
     tortoises and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping
     them on stones to obtain the contents, and is therefore
     called {bonebreaker} and {ossifrage}. It is supposed to be
     the {ossifrage} of the Bible. Called also {bearded vulture}
     and {bearded eagle}.
     [1913 Webster]