What does eyrie mean?
An eyrie is the nest of a bird of prey, most famously that of the eagle, typically built on a remote cliff ledge or another high, inaccessible spot. Because such nests are often reused and enlarged over many breeding seasons, they can grow to enormous sizes. By extension, the word describes any human dwelling or retreat perched high above its surroundings — a mountain cabin, a treetop study, or a penthouse with sweeping views — lending the place an air of seclusion and command. "Eyrie" is the customary British spelling, while "aerie" predominates in American English; it should not be confused with "eerie," the adjective meaning uncanny or unsettling. Derived through Old French from a Latin root related to open ground, the word entered English around the sixteenth century and retains a distinctly literary flavor today, evoking wild landscapes, height, and solitary grandeur.
nounThe nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built on a high cliff or other lofty, inaccessible place.
- The nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, built in a high or inaccessible place such as a cliff ledge.
- (Figurative) Any dwelling or position situated high up and difficult to reach, especially one offering an extensive view.
"From the clifftop we could see the eagle's eyrie perched far above the crashing waves."
"Rangers abseiled down the sea cliff to band the chicks in the peregrine's eyrie."
"The writer worked in a hillside eyrie overlooking the entire valley."
The plural follows the regular English pattern for nouns ending in consonant + y.
"The survey recorded several eyries along the inaccessible stretch of coastline."
An eagle's eyrie can weigh more than the bird that built it — some nests are added to year after year until they tip the scales at over a tonne.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eyrie
"Eyrie" entered English in the sixteenth century, borrowed from Old French "aire" or "eyre," meaning the nest of a bird of prey, which itself derives from Latin "area," meaning a level piece of open ground. The same Latin root gave English the word "area." The variant spellings "aerie" and "aery" arose early and persist, with "aerie" now standard in American usage and "eyrie" in British usage.
How eyrie is actually used
"Eyrie" is the standard British spelling; "aerie" is the standard American spelling. The figurative sense — a lofty, secluded dwelling — carries connotations of solitude, elevation, and sometimes aloofness. The word has a literary, slightly elevated register even when used literally.
Easily confused with eyrie
"Aerie" is simply the standard American spelling of the same word "eyrie," which is the usual British spelling.
"Eerie" is an adjective meaning strange and frightening, while "eyrie" is a noun meaning the nest of a bird of prey.