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]
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.