ossifragus (c.1360-79)

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ossifragus (c.1360-79)

[ gdw]

[ FEW: *7,435a ossifraga; Gdf: ; GdfC: ; TL: ; DEAF: ; DMF: ; TLF: ; OED:  ossifrage n.; MED: ; DMLBS: 2063c ossifragus ]
 
ls(loanword: Latin )
le

The etymon of osprey may be ossifragus, via an unattested French *osfraie, cf. OED sub ossifrage.

The DMF lists several less Latinate forms of this word: offraigne, orfraie, orfrès>, and orprès, all referring to the same bird.

s.

1orn.zool.bird of prey that breaks bones by dropping them from a great height, probably the osprey
( c.1360-79; MS: s.xivex )  Ossifragus de sa nature C'est un oisel qui soulement Du moel des oss prent sa pasture  1850
freindre  os#1 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
ossifragus