eyrie
UK[ˈɪəri]US[ˈɪri]
n
The nest of a large bird of prey, especially an eagle, built high on a cliff or mountain.
n
A house, dwelling, or stronghold built or situated high up.
Etymology
The word 'eyrie' entered English in the mid-16th century from the Old French term 'aire', which meant a nest or breeding ground. This French word was itself derived from the Medieval Latin 'aeria', a variant of the Latin 'area' meaning an open space or piece of ground. The semantic journey is one of specification: from a general open space (Latin 'area'), to a specific ground for nesting (Old French 'aire'), and finally to the high, inaccessible nest of a bird of prey in English. The modern spelling with 'ey-' was influenced by an erroneous association with the Middle English word 'ey', meaning 'egg'.
Analysis
The word 'eyrie' is a simplex loanword from Old French, which itself derived from Medieval Latin. Its spelling and form have been anglicized, making its internal Latin components ('aeria') no longer directly segmentable into meaningful English morphemes.
Examples
The hikers spotted an eagle's eyrie on the rocky cliff face.
His mountain cabin was a secluded eyrie overlooking the entire valley.
Conservationists monitored the eyrie to ensure the eaglets' safety.