falcon: Meaning and Definition of

fal•con

1. any of several birds of prey of the family Falconidae, esp. of the genus Falco, usually distinguished by long, pointed wings, a hooked beak with a toothlike notch on each side of the upper bill, and swift, agile flight, typically diving to seize prey: some falcon species are close to extinction.
1. the female gyrfalcon.
2. falcon-gentle.
3. any bird of prey trained for use in falconry. Cf. tercel.
3. a small, light cannon in use from the 15th to the 17th century.
4. (cap.)a family of air-to-air guided missiles, some of them capable of carrying nuclear warheads.