Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A winged creature of Iranian mythology in the form of a gigantic bird, sometimes with a dog's face and a lion's claws, depicted as a benevolent being using its wisdom and magical powers to provide help.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A gigantic winged benevolent creature.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Persian sīmorg̣, from Middle Persian sēn murw, from Avestan saēna- mərəγa- : saēna-, a kind of raptor (probably an eagle or falcon); akin to Sanskrit śyenaḥ, eagle, falcon + mərəga-, bird; akin to Sanskrit mṛga-, deer (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mr̥ga-, animal).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Persian سیمرغ (simorğ), from Middle Persian 𐭮𐭩𐭭𐭬𐭥𐭫𐭥 (sēnmurw).

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Examples

  • [49] It should be remembered that the name Simurgh means "thirty birds."

    Mystics and Saints of Islam Claud Field 1902

  • The Simargl was depicted as a dog with wings, and the Simurgh was a winged creature like a bird with the head of a dog and claws of a lion.

    Poll Results! SVGL 2009

  • I don't recall the Simurgh ever panicking; are you sure this isn't someone's slanderous story?

    Question Quest Anthony, Piers 1991

  • I don't recall the Simurgh ever panicking; are you sure this isn't someone's slanderous story?

    Question Quest Anthony, Piers 1991

  • The Simurgh was the largest and oldest of birds, who had seen the destruction and regeneration of the universe three times and was probably good for one or two more times.

    Isle of View Anthony, Piers 1990

  • The Simurgh was the most knowledgeable bird — and creature-of all time!

    Dragon on a Pedestal Anthony, Piers 1983

  • The Prosecution calls the Simurgh to the Witness Seat. "

    Roc and a Hard Place Anthony, Piers 1995

  • The Prosecution calls the Simurgh to the Witness Seat. "

    Roc and a Hard Place Anthony, Piers 1995

  • "Then a voice was heard saying, 'The Majesty of the Simurgh is a sun-resembling mirror; whosoever contemplates Him beholds his own reflection; body and soul see in Him body and soul.

    Mystics and Saints of Islam Claud Field 1902

  • A quick mythology-related wikipedia search suggests the dog-creature is either a Simargl or Simurgh, of Slavic and Persian mythology respectively.

    Poll Results! SVGL 2009

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