griffe

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈgrif 

plural -s

1

: a person of three-quarter black and one-quarter white ancestry

2

: a person of mixed black and American Indian blood

griffe

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈgrif 

variants or griff

plural -s

1

: an ornament resembling a claw that projects from the round base of an architectural column upon the angle formed by a corner of the plinth

called also spur

2

: an arrangement of parallel bars on a loom for lifting the hooked wires that raise the warp threads in weaving jacquard or dobby fabrics

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from American Spanish grifo, from Spanish, adjective, kinky-haired, from grifo, noun, griffin, from Latin gryphus

Noun (2)

French griffe, literally, claw, from Middle French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German grīfan to grasp, seize

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