Vulture

sb. Forms: α. 4 volture, 5 vowlture, 4– vulture (5 fulture), 5 voultour, 7 vultour. β. 4–9 vultur, 5 wltur, fultur, vowtur. γ. 4 vultre, 5 w(u)ltre, vowtre; 4, 6–7 vulter, 6 voulter, vultar, 7 volter. [a. AF. vultur and voutre, OF. voltour, voultour, voutour (F. vautour), or L. vultur, or ad. L. vulturius. The OF. forms, like Pr. voltor, voutor, and It. avoltore, avoltojo, represent L. vulturi-us, while AF. voutre, Sp. buitre, and Pg. abutre are from L. vultur.

  In Maundeville (1839), xxii. 237 the form veutour is prob. inexact for voutour.]

  1.  One of a number of large birds of prey of the order Raptores which feed almost entirely upon carrion and have the head and neck altogether or almost featherless.

  The American vultures belong to different genera from those of the Old World.

  α.  c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 788. Ticius yn helle, Whos stomak foughles tiren euere mo, That highte volturis as bokes telle.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. xxxvi. (Bodl. MS.). The vulture haþ þat name of slowe fliȝt. Ibid. Whan manye vultures comeþ and fleeþ togedres hit bodeþ bataille.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxiv. 153. Vowltures, egles, rauyns, and oþer fewlez of rauyne.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 41. Grete foulis lyke ernis callit voultouris.

1567.  Maplet, Gr. Forest, 18. Qvandias is a stone … It is found in the Vulture his heade.

1584–7.  Greene, Carde of Fancie, Wks. (Grosart), IV. 115. The Vulture is mortal enimie to the Eele.

1615.  Chapman, Odyss., XI. 784. On his bosome sat Two Vultures, digging through his caule of fat.

1638.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 11. The destruction of men and women … better contenting them, whose dead carkasses they devoure with a vultures appetite.

1679.  Collier, Ess., II. (1703), 129. [Despair] preys upon the vitals, like Prometheus’s vulture.

1721.  Young, Revenge, IV. i. Give them the vultures, tear them all in pieces!

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., III. 59. The Vulture … is indelicately voracious, and seldom attacks living animals when it can be supplied with dead.

1834.  H. M’Murtrie, Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 118. The vultures have eyes flush with the head, and reticulated tarsi,… an elongated beak,… and a greater or less portion of the head, or even of the neck divested of feathers.

1843.  Yarrell, Brit. Birds, I. 2. Vultures are most numerous in warm countries, where a high degree of temperature induces rapid decomposition.

1878.  B. Taylor, Deukalion, II. v. 84. There wheels a vulture, giving to the blue The shade or sparkle of his slanted wings.

  β.  1388.  Wyclif, Job xxviii. 7. The iȝe of a vultur [v.r. vowtur], ethir rauenouse brid, bihelde it not.

c. 1420.  Prose Life Alexander, 71. In þe mornenynge arely þare come many fewlis als grete as wlturs, reed of colour.

1495.  Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XII. ii. 410. That egle … dredyth the Fultur.

1580.  G. Harvey, Three Proper Lett., 36. A Vulturs smelling, Apes tasting, sight of an Eagle.

1638.  Mayne, Lucian (1664), 282. When the Vultur in his crooked clawes Shall graspe the locust.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 431. As when a Vultur on Imaus bred … flies toward the Springs Of Ganges or Hydaspes.

1695.  Prior, Ballad on Taking Namur, ii. Too like a Vultur Boileau flies, Where sordid Interest shows the Prey.

1757.  W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, I. 20. No doves are hatch’d beneath a vultur’s wing.

1828–32.  Webster, s.v., The vultur is one of the largest kinds of fowls.

  γ.  1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 57. Seuen foules schewede hem to Remus, þat beeþ i-cleped vulterus. Ibid. Fourtene vulterus [v.r. vultres] schewed hem to Romulus.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 3945. Þan come a fliȝtir in of fowls … To vise on as vowtres.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, I. i. (1883), 10. Thre honderd birdes that men calle wultres.

1495.  Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxv. 918. Wltrees egges be grete as Egles egges.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Vultur,… a rauenous birde called a voulter or geyre.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 153. Doth not the Lyon for strength … excell man? Doth not the Eagle see clearer, the Vultur smel better?

1687.  Good Advice, 44. Spurs, Claws and Bills that made her look more like a Vulter then a Dove.

  b.  With distinguishing terms.

  The number of these is very large, and only some of the more important are here recorded. See also AURICULATED ppl. a., CRANE sb.¹ 7, GRIFFIN¹ 4, MALTESE a. 2, SECRETARY sb.¹ 7, SOCIABLE a. 1 b.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 12. *Alpine Vulture: Vultur percnopterus.

1829.  Scott, Anne of Geierstein, ii. One of this … flight chanced to be a lammer-geier, or Alpine vulture.

1896.  trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 461. The small Alpine Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), with naked head and very long, thin beak.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 36. *American Vulture.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 8. *Arabian V[ulture]. According to Edwards, the size exceeds that of a common eagle, by one third.

1855.  Orr’s Circle Sci., Org. Nat., III. 374. The Vultur monachus, or Arabian Vulture.

1575.  Turberv., Falconrie, 16. The *ashe-coloured Vulture is the most large byrde of praye that is to be founde.

1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 64. Vultur Cinereus, the ash-coloured Vultur.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), II. 252. In this tribe we may range … the ash-coloured … vulture.

1750.  G. Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, III. 106. The *Bearded Vulture. This Bird is of the Bigness of an Eagle.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 13. From which circumstance the name of Bearded Vulture is particularly applied to the present species.

1882.  Encycl. Brit., XIV. 243/2. Lämmergeyer … or Bearded Vulture,… one of the grandest birds-of-prey of the Palæarctic Region.

1575.  Turberv., Falconrie, 16. There are two sortes,… the ashe mayld, or *blacke Vulture, and the browne or whitish Vulture.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, X. vi. I. 274. The blacke vultures are the best.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 31. Black Vulture … This bird is described as larger than the Golden Vulture, and of a black colour.

1837.  Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Nat. Hist., III. 825/2. The Black Vulture (C. atratus) is a darker and smaller species.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 10. *Californian Vulture.

1872.  Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 222. Californian Vulture. Brownish-black, lustrous above, paler below.

1888.  Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 302/1. Pseudogryphus, the great Californian Vulture.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 9. *Carrion Vulture. The size of this species is about that of a Turkey.

1849.  Tennyson, ‘You might have won,’ 35. For whom the carrion vulture waits—To tear his heart!

1896.  trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 461. The smaller Carrion Vulture (Cathartes).

a. 1672.  Willughby, Ornith. (1678), 67. The *cinereous or ash-coloured Vulture.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 14. Cinereous V[ulture] … The size is that of an Eagle, or rather bigger.

1843.  Penny Cycl., XXVI. 470/1. The Cinereous Vulture is chiefly seen in the plains in winter.

1758.  G. Edwards, Glean. Nat. Hist., 171. The *Crested or Coped Black Vulture … is a very large bird.

1837.  Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Nat. Hist., II. 824/2. The *Eared Vulture (V. auricularis) is an African species of a blackish colour, with a fleshy crest on each side of the head under the openings of the ears.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 13. *Egyptian V[ulture] … is said to be of a rufous ash-colour, spotted with brown.

1837.  Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Nat. Hist., III. 825/2. Egyptian Vulture (P. leucocephalus) … also, from its abundance in Egypt, called ‘Pharaoh’s chicken.’

1888.  Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 302/1. One of them [sc. Nephroninæ] is the so-called Egyptian Vulture or Pharaoh’s Hen, Neophron percnopterus.

a. 1672.  Willughby, Ornith. (1678), 67, margin. Our *Fulvous Vulture, like Bellonius his Chesnut one.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 27. The Fulvous or Golden Vulture is one of the largest of the genus, exceeding the size of the Golden Eagle.

1840.  Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 165. The Fulvous Vulture … is the most widely-diffused species, inhabiting the mountainous parts of the whole ancient continent.

a. 1672.  Willughby, Ornith. (1678), 67. Viewing the skin of the *Golden Vulture, sent me once out of the Alpine Country of the Grisons,… I thus described it.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), II. 252. The Golden Vulture seems to be the foremost of the kind.

1809.  [see fulvous vulture].

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 7. *King V[ulture] … is about the size of an hen Turkey.

1855.  Orr’s Circle Sci., Org. Nat., III. 374. Another species of the genus Sarcorhamphus … is the King Vulture (S. papa), which is not uncommon in Brazil and Guiana.

1781.  Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. 19. *Tawny Vulture…. Inhabits Falkland Islands.

1837.  Partington’s Brit. Cycl. Nat. Hist., III. 824/1. The Tawny Vulture (V. fulvus) is a large bird, and has been long known to natural history. Ibid., 825/2. The *Turkey Vulture (C. aura) is another American species of smaller size.

1855.  Orr’s Circle Sci., Org. Nat., III. 375. The common American Vulture is the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), or Turkey Buzzard.

1896.  trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 461. The large *White-headed Vulture (Vultur fulvus).

  c.  King of the vultures, the king-vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa).

1743.  G. Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, I. 2. The King of the Vultures. This Bird is about the Bigness of a Hen-Turkey.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), II. 254. There is one of the kind, called the King of the Vultures, which from its extraordinary figure deserves a separate description.

1796.  Stedman, Surinam, II. xxvii. 299. The bird called the king of the vultures is not very common in Surinam.

1855.  Orr’s Circle Sci., Org. Nat., III. 375. It is from this that he derives his title of the King of the Vultures.

  2.  fig. a. Something that preys upon a person, the mind, etc., after the manner of a vulture; esp. a consuming or torturing passion.

  Commonly in allusion to the punishment inflicted on Tityus (Odyss., XI. 576).

1582.  T. Watson, Centurie of Love, li, A Vultur worse then his teares all my vaines.

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., V. ii. 30. I am Reuenge sent from th’ infernall Kingdome, To ease the gnawing Vulture of the mind.

a. 1631.  Donne, Serm., Ps. xc. 14 (1640), 813. That fearfull Vulture, the Inquisition, hovers over them.

1639.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Summers Trav. (1873), 33. The Client having Tityus empty maw (His guts tormented with the Vulture Law).

1742.  Gray, Eton, 62. These shall the fury Passions tear, The vulturs of the mind, Disdainful Anger, pallid Fear, And Shame.

1816.  Byron, Ch. Har., III. lix. And could the ceaseless vultures cease to prey On self-condemning bosoms, it were here.

1861.  C. Reade, Cloister & Hearth, lxv. The bereaved heart lay still heavy as lead within his bosom; but now the dark vulture Remorse sat upon it rending it.

1883.  Macfadyen, in Congregat. Year Bk., 77. The nation seems preyed upon by vultures of lust and superstition.

  b.  A person of a vile and rapacious disposition.

1603.  B. Jonson, Sejanus, III. ii. Time shall mature … what we, with so good vultures, haue begunne.

1613.  Beaum. & Fl., Honest Man’s Fort., II. i. Ye dregs of baseness, vultures amongst men, That tyre upon the hearts of generous spirits.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 38, ¶ 10. He … will be at last torn to pieces by the vultures that always hover over fortunes in decay.

1828.  Lytton, Pelham, III. ii. Before midnight I was in high fever; they sent for the vultures of physic—I was bled copiously.

1884.  Pall Mall G., 19 Sept., 4/2. Lord Ripon … showed that India was not merely the favourite hunting-ground of English vultures.

  3.  Astr. One or other of two northern constellations, distinguished as the falling vulture = LYRA 2, HARP sb.¹ 3, and flying vulture = EAGLE sb. 4.

1638.  Chilmead, trans. Hues’ Treat. Globes, II. iii. (1889), 53. The ninth is Gallina or Cygnus, the Hen or Swan, and is called in Arabique … the flying Vulture.

1673.  F. Lamb, Acroscopium, 6. The Harp, otherwise called the falling Grype, or Vulture. Ibid., 10. The Eagle, by some call’d the flying Grype or Vulture, consisting of 12 stars.

1901.  J. F. Hewitt, Myth-making Age, I. i. 8. When Vega in the Constellation of the Vulture or Lyra became Pole Star.

  4.  attrib. and Comb. a. Attrib. with beak, claw, eye, feather, etc., denoting either ‘of a vulture’ or ‘like that of a vulture’; also vulture-feather, a species of moth.

1834.  W. Howitt, in Tait’s Mag., I. 375/2. With a heart free from the *vulture-beak of care.

1867.  Morris, Jason, V. 255. Within her filthy *vulture-claws clutched tight.

1593.  A. Chute, Beautie Dishonoured (1908), 110. When coward death … Lookes on her fayre face, with a *vultar eye.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xxiv. Under the eagle, or rather the vulture eye of the Baron.

1832.  J. Rennie, Consp. Butterfl. & M., 208. The *Vulture Feather (— Gryphipennella) found amongst grass.

1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Vulture-feathers, feathers of species of Accipitres, imported from Bombay, and sold for stuffing beds, &c., the larger ones for making artificial flowers, &c. Ibid. (1883), Vulture feathers, a commercial name for those of the Rhea of South America.

1885.  Rider Haggard, King Solomon’s Mines, ix. She turned her bald *vulture-head towards us.

1854.  Poultry Chron., I. 128/2. *Vulture-hocks [in Cochin China cocks] are a matter of taste. Ibid. (1855), III. 348/2. The boots, or as Shanghai fanciers would style it, the vulture hock, must be white.

1847.  Tennyson, Princ., IV. 344. Thereat the Lady stretch’d a vulture throat.

1871.  J. Hay, Pike County Ball. (1880), 86. Cast from the hovering *vulture-wings of one dark thought of woe and doom.

  b.  Attrib. with nouns of quality or action.

1593.  A. Chute, Beautie Dishonoured (1908), 105. To vultar greedinesse of an easie crowne.

1800.  Campbell, Scene in Bavaria, xiii. Who shuns a warring world, nor woos The vulture cover of its wing.

1806.  T. Maurice, Fall Mogul, II. iv. All our treasures His vulture-grasp has seiz’d.

1821.  Shelley, Hellas, 940. Victorious Wrong, with vulture scream, Salutes the rising sun.

  c.  Appositive, also in fig. use (cf. sense 2).

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 551. Whose vultur thought doth pitch the price so hie.

a. 1639.  T. Carew, Mediocritie in love Rej., ii. If it prove Disdaine, that torrent will devoure My Vulture-hopes.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 85. The eagle kind, the hawk kind, the vulture kind.

1809.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VII. 2. The chief of the Vulture tribe … is undoubtedly the Condor. Ibid., 13. One of the principal distinctions between the Eagle and the Vulture kind.

1818.  Keats, Endym., III. 620. Cursed, cursed Circe! O vulture-witch, hast never heard of mercy?

1843.  T. Edmonston, in Zoologist, I. 38. The vulture-eagle lay in her own nest, bound, gagged, and powerless.

  d.  In instrumental and similative combs., as vulture-gnawn, -rent, -torn, -tortured; vulture-hocked (see 4 a), -like adjs.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. Colonies, 298. The Vultur-rented Prometheus, ’mong the Greeks had fire invented.

1623.  G. Daniel, Sonn., xv. To her that … laies to view My Vultur-gnawne hart open.

1644.  Digby, Nat. Soul, Concl. 456. The ravenous inclemency, and vulturelike cruelty.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 418. These rush upon thee; Thy vitals seize, and vultur-like, devour.

1743.  Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. xiv. 10. Where vulture-tortured Tityus lies.

1826.  Blackw. Mag., XIX. 589. To be like poor Prometheus, vulture-torn.

1854.  Poultry Chron., II. 84/1. They are well booted, or as the Shanghae fanciers style it, ‘Vulture-hocked.’

  Hence Vulture v. trans., to tear like a vulture. rare^–1.

1628.  Feltham, Resolves, II. [I.] xxv. 80. Though pleasure merries the Sences for a while: yet horror after vultures the vnconsuming heart.