talon
pronunciation
How to pronounce talon in British English:
UK [ˈtælən]
How to pronounce talon in American English:
US [ˈtælən]
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- Noun:
- a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
Word Origin
- talon
- talon: [14] Latin tālus meant ‘ankle’ (it was probably a borrowing from Celtic – Irish has sal ‘talon’). From it was derived Vulgar Latin *tālō ‘heel, spur’, which passed into English via Old French talon. In English its meaning evolved via ‘heel of an animal’ and ‘bird of prey’s claw’ to ‘claw’ in general.
- talon (n.)
- c. 1400, talounz "claws of a bird or beast," probably originally from Old French talon "heel or hinder part of the foot of a beast, or of a man, or of a shoe; foot-step" (12c.), from Medieval Latin talonem "heel," from Latin talus "ankle" (see talus (n.1)). "The extension to birds of prey, and subsequent stages, are peculiar to English" [OED].
Example
- 1. About what happened last night in the talon ?
- 2. As an everyday companion , the talon is irresistible .
- 3. Oh , by the way , I 'm closing the talon .
- 4. Are you talking about the talon ?
- 5. Sure . Why don 't you come by the talon later .