tiercel

noun

tier·​cel ˈtir-səl How to pronounce tiercel (audio)
variants or tercel
ˈtər-səl How to pronounce tiercel (audio)
: a male hawk
especially : a male peregrine falcon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tercel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tertiolus, from diminutive of Latin tertius third; probably from the fact that the male is about one third smaller than the female

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiercel was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tiercel

tierce de Picardie

tiercel

tierceron

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Tiercel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiercel. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tiercel

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