Brussels griffon

1 of 3

noun (1)

: any of a breed of short-faced compact rough- or smooth-coated toy dogs of Belgian origin

called also griffon

Illustration of Brussels griffon

Illustration of brussels griffon

griffin

2 of 3

noun (2)

grif·​fin ˈgri-fən How to pronounce griffin (audio)
variants or griffon or less commonly
: a mythical animal typically having the head, forepart, and wings of an eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion

Illustration of griffin

Illustration of griffin

griffon

3 of 3

noun (3)

grif·​fon ˈgri-fən How to pronounce griffon (audio)
1
: brussels griffon
2
: wirehaired pointing griffon

Examples of Brussels griffon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The third-place winner was Monkey, a gray Brussels griffon rescued at 6 months old from a hoarding situation by Scotch Haley of Pleasant Hill. — Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 26 June 2022
Noun
Mythical creatures — griffins and sphinxes — cover the back. — Ryan Brennan april 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026 Mythical creatures — griffins and sphinxes — adorn the back, motifs that speak to the cultural exchanges flowing through the region. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Brussels griffon

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English griffon, from Anglo-French grif, griffun, from Latin gryphus, from Greek gryp-, gryps

Noun (3)

French, literally, griffin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1897, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Brussels griffon was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing Brussels griffon

Rhymes for Brussels griffon

See All Rhymes for Brussels griffon

Browse Nearby Words

Brussels classification
Brussels griffon
Brussels lace
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brussels griffon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Brussels%20griffon. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Geographical Definition

Griffin

geographical name

Grif·​fin ˈgri-fən How to pronounce Griffin (audio)
city south-southeast of Atlanta in west central Georgia population 23,643

Biographical Definition

Griffin

biographical name

Grif·​fin ˈgri-fən How to pronounce Griffin (audio)
Walter Burley 1876–1937 American architect

More from Merriam-Webster on Brussels griffon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Brussels griffon

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