jess

¹ American  

[jes] / dʒɛs /

noun

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to put jesses on (a hawk).

Jess ² American  

[jes] / dʒɛs /

noun

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

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jess British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• jessed adjective

Etymology

Origin of jess

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

Example Sentences

“With this varvel,” the Wart heard, “I thee endow... love, honour and obey... till jess us do part.”

From Literature

But,” he said, leaning closer to her, “if I don’t jess and leash you, you’re not a captive bird. “Will you stay anyway?”

From Literature

“No, you’ll fly if I do that. I’d better jess you first.”

From Literature

You all know me I'm jess a small town salesman with a smatterin' of law.

From Time Magazine Archive

Epstein also passed on advice from someone referred to as "jess" that "supporting gb will be seen as bad form commercially, he has lost the confidence of the public".

From BBC