lammervanger, noun

Forms:
Also laemer-vanger.
Plurals:
lammervangers, or unchanged.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch lam, lammer lamb + vanger catcher; so named because reputed to feed on young lambs.
Any of several large raptors of the Accipitridae, especially the martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, the tawny eagle or golden eagle, Aquila rapax, and the bearded vulture or lammergeyer, Gypaetys barbatus. Formerly also (rare) lammetjievanger/ˈlaməki-/ [see -ie], or lamvanger/ˈlam-/. Also attributive.
1830 S. Afr. Quarterly Jrnl Jan.Apr. 105Gypaetys Barbatus, Cuv. — Arend and Lammervanger of the Colonists.
1835 A. Steedman Wanderings II. 7On the previous night some jackals had attacked and bitten off the tails of several lambs..others had been destroyed by the Laemer-vanger, or bearded vulture.
1864 T. Baines Explor. in S.-W. Afr. 194The bird,..called by some the Lammijie-vanger, (Lamb catcher,) and by others the Golden Eagle, differs, so far as I can find, only in the lighter colour of its plumage from the European kind.
1906 W.S. Johnson Orangia 17We have a good many birds, including eagles, some of which attack lambs and are called Lammervangers.
[1923 Haagner & Ivy Sketches of S. Afr. Bird-Life 8The peculiar Lämmergeyer (Gypaëtus ossifragus) is called by the Boers the Lammervanger (Lamb-catcher), but the stories told of its attacking sheep, and even human beings, are exaggerated!]
1946 V. Pohl Adventures of Boer Family 117The lammervanger is one of the wariest, shyest and most keen-eyed of all birds.
1959 Cape Times 20 June 2Mr. Sonny Waks..saw an eagle — commonly known as a lammer-vanger — catching one of his young lambs.
1961 A. Fugard Notebks (1983) 24The wildest, most beautiful of all animals, the Martial Eagle, Lammervanger.
1965 J. Bennett Hawk Alone 124Right about then two black specks flew in wide circles; lammervanger eagles from the cliffs across the valley. Their high harsh cries drifted down from the sky.
1975 Daily Dispatch 10 Apr. 8Suddenly a lammervanger, or martial eagle, swooped down and picked up a baby baboon in its talons.
Any of several large raptors of the Accipitridae, especially the martial eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, the tawny eagle or golden eagle, Aquila rapax, and the bearded vulture or lammergeyer, Gypaetys barbatus. Formerly also (rare) lammetjievanger/ˈlaməki-/ [see -ie], or lamvanger/ˈlam-/. Also attributive.
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