jess

¹

[jes]

noun

1. a short strap fastened around the leg of a hawk and attached to the leash.

verb (used with object)

1. to put jesses on (a hawk).

Jess

²

[jes]

noun

1. a male or female given name, form of Jesse, Jessie, or Jessica.

jess

/ dʒɛs /

noun

1. a short leather strap, one end of which is permanently attached to the leg of a hawk or falcon while the other can be attached to a leash

verb

1. (tr) to put jesses on (a hawk or falcon)

Other Word Forms

• jessed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jess¹

1300–50; Middle English ges < Old French ges, gez, getz (nominative) ( get oblique > French jet; jet ¹ ) ≪ Latin jactus a throwing, equivalent to jac ( ere ) to throw + -tus suffix of v. action

Word History and Origins

Origin of jess¹

C14: from Old French ges, from Latin jactus a throw, from jacere to throw