noun
Jess
jehs
noun
1
A short strap fastened around a hawk's leg in falconry, used to attach a leash.
"The falconer checked the jess before letting the bird settle on her glove."
verb
1
To fit a hawk with jesses.
"The trainer jessed the young falcon before its first flight."
How to Use Jess
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA falconry term for the leg-strap used to control a trained hawk, or the act of fitting one.
When to use it
A specialist term used almost exclusively in falconry.
Word Forms
jessed past tense, jesses plural, jesses singular
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The falconer checked the _____ before letting the bird settle on her glove.
Etymology
From Old French ges, from Latin iactus, "a throw" — the same root that gives us "jet" and "project."