From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
falcon
n : diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings
adapted for swift flight
v : hunt with falcons; "The Arabs like to falcon in the desert"
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Falcon \Fal"con\, n. [OE. faucon, faucoun, OF. faucon, falcon,
?. faucon, fr. LL. falco, perh. from L. falx, falcis, a
sickle or scythe, and named from its curving talons. Cf.
Falchion.]
1. (Zool.)
(a) One of a family ({Falconid[ae]}) of raptorial birds,
characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws,
and powerful flight.
(b) Any species of the genus Falco, distinguished by
having a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible;
especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit
of other birds, or game.
[1913 Webster]
In the language of falconry, the female
peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is exclusively
called the falcon. --Yarrell.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Gun.) An ancient form of cannon.
[1913 Webster]
Chanting falcon. (Zool.) See under Chanting.
[1913 Webster]