1. A falcon (Falco biarmicus) of Africa, the Mediterranean, and southern Asia.
2. A female of this species, used in falconry.

[Middle English laner, from Old French lanier, woolweaver, coward, from Latin lānārius, woolworker, from lāna, wool.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.