griffe

1
[ grif ]

nounChiefly Louisiana.
  1. the offspring of a Black person and a mulatto.

  2. a person of mixed Black and American Indian ancestry.

  1. a mulatto, especially a woman.

Origin of griffe

1
An Americanism first recorded in 1715–25; from Louisiana French, from Caribbean Spanish grifo “curly-haired”

Words Nearby griffe

Other definitions for griffe (2 of 2)

griffe2
[ grif ]

nounArchitecture.
  1. an ornament at the base of a column, projecting from the torus toward a corner of the plinth.

Origin of griffe

2
1870–75; <French: claw <Germanic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use griffe in a sentence

  • The nurse, a comfortable looking griffe woman in white apron and cap, was urging her to return to her bedroom.

  • I longed to interpose with a warning word, for in the handwriting I recognized the griffe of the fatal Delilah.

    Guy Livingstone; | George A. Lawrence
  • Monsieur only goes away to wait upon the griffe, his master, when he wants more work; his griffe is a slop tailor.

    A Tramp's Wallet | William Duthie
  • There was a flash of light, and I saw a great griffe standing there, looking at me curiously.

    Latitude 19 degree | Mrs. Schuyler Crowninshield
  • But the griffe rudely jerked me to my feet again, and told me, I suppose, that I was to accompany him.

    Latitude 19 degree | Mrs. Schuyler Crowninshield

British Dictionary definitions for griffe

griffe

/ (ɡrɪf) /


noun
  1. architect a carved ornament at the base of a column, often in the form of a claw

Origin of griffe

1
C19: from French: claw, of Germanic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012