tercel

[ tur-suhl ]

noun

, Falconry.

1. the male of a hawk, especially of a gyrfalcon or peregrine.

tercel

/ ˈtɜːsəl /

noun

1. a male falcon or hawk, esp as used in falconry

Word History and Origins

Origin of tercel¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French terçuel < Vulgar Latin *tertiolus, equivalent to Latin terti ( us ) third + -olus -ole ¹; probably so called because the male is about one third smaller than the female

Word History and Origins

Origin of tercel¹

C14: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin tertiolus (unattested), from Latin tertius third, referring to the tradition that only one egg in three hatched a male chick

Example Sentences

A wild tercel, the male peregrine falcon, passed overhead.

From Literature

Tiercel.—The male of various falcons, particularly of the peregrine, also tarcell, tassell or tercel; the term is also applied to the male of the goshawk.

From Project Gutenberg

Ere long Mer made exhibition of her high strain and training—for the little falcon was also a female—sufficient to prove herself neither tercel nor haggard.

From Project Gutenberg

The tassel, or tercel, was the male of the peregrine falcon, and was noted for its docility and gentleness.

From Project Gutenberg

The only difference being, that the victim then was a tercel gentle, and now it would be a white dove.

From Project Gutenberg