tercel

American  

[tur-suhl] / ˈtɜr səl /

Also tercelet

noun

Falconry.

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

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tercel British  

/ ˈtɜːsəl /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of tercel

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

Example Sentences

The tercel circles the tree and grows calmer as we descend.

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