saker

¹ American  

[sey-ker] / ˈseɪ kər /

noun

1. an Old World falcon, Falco cherrug, used in falconry.

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saker ² American  

[sey-ker] / ˈseɪ kər /

noun

1. a light field gun that is smaller than a demiculverin and fires a shot weighing 6 pounds (4.5 kilograms) or less.

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saker British  

/ ˈseɪkə /

noun

1. a large falcon, Falco cherrug, of E Europe and central Asia: used in falconry

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Etymology

Origin of saker¹

1350–1400; Middle English sagre, sacre < Middle French sacre ≪ Arabic ṣaqr

Origin of saker²

First recorded in 1515–25; special use of saker ¹

Example Sentences

The saker bloodline, he said, “helps Bomber deal with the desert heat.”

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2018

A host of other noneagle raptors fit into this tough-guy category, including Hungary’s saker falcon, Iceland’s gyrfalcon, and North Korea’s northern goshawk.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2016

Marley, a saker falcon with gold-flecked wings, was blindfolded and perched on Du Toit’s arm.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2015

He was born and bred in Dubai, even though saker falcons, recognized by their brown upperbellies and horizontal pursuit, usually breed around the northern Himalayas.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2015

From him we received one small ball, either from a minnion or saker, into our mizen-mast, and with another he sunk our long-boat, which we recovered, but lost many things out of it.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 09 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert