hippogriff

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hippogriff \Hip"po*griff\, n. [F. hippogriffe; cf. It.
   ippogrifo. See {Hippopotamus}, {Griffon}.] (Myth.)
   A fabulous winged animal, half horse and half griffin.
   --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]
    
from The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
HIPPOGRIFF, n.  An animal (now extinct) which was half horse and half
griffin.  The griffin was itself a compound creature, half lion and
half eagle.  The hippogriff was actually, therefore, a one-quarter
eagle, which is two dollars and fifty cents in gold.  The study of
zoology is full of surprises.
    

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