aquila
|a-qui-la|
/əˈkwɪlə/
eagle / eagle-symbol
Etymology
'aquila' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aquila', where the root 'aquil-' meant 'eagle'.
'aquila' changed from Late/Medieval Latin 'aquila' and entered English via Latin (Medieval and Modern Latin usage), retaining the form 'aquila' and later being used in taxonomy and astronomy.
Initially, it meant 'eagle' in Latin, but over time it evolved to include meanings such as the Roman military 'eagle' standard, the genus name for certain eagles, and the name of the constellation 'Aquila'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a Roman military standard in the form of an eagle, carried as the emblem and sacred symbol of a legion.
The legion's aquila was carried into battle as a sacred emblem.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a genus of large diurnal birds of prey (true eagles) in the family Accipitridae.
The aquila often nests on cliffs and hunts large mammals.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/30 05:40