noun
- a large bird of prey, especially the bearded vulture or lammergeier
Usage: archaic; literary
Examples
- The ossifrage soared high above the mountain peaks.
- Ancient texts describe the ossifrage as a bone-breaking bird.
- The ossifrage was mentioned in biblical passages about unclean birds.
- Naturalists of old used the term ossifrage for certain large raptors.
- The ossifrage’s powerful beak could crack open bones.
- Medieval bestiaries featured illustrations of the mighty ossifrage.