Words Derived from Falconry Terms Quiz

Answer: Hoodwinked

Falcons are calmed by placing hoods over their heads, to block out upsetting sights and make the falcon think it is night. To slip a hood over a wild, agitated falcon was to "hoodwink" the bird,

Answer: Codger

One claim for the history of this word is that it's a variation of "cadger," the person who carried a falcon's perch- which was known as a "cadge"- into the field. As the story goes, this duty was reserved for retired falconers who could not perform more strenuous tasks.

Another derivation, a bit more far-fetched, is that the cadger was unpaid and had to beg for tips- thus leading to the word "cadge" as a synonym for "beg."

Answer: Fed up

A "fed up" falcon would refuse to fly and wanted nothing to do with hunting.

Answer: Callow

"Callow" derives from a word meaning "bare," much as newborn falcons are covered with only a bit of wispy down.

Answer: Haggard

A haggard was a female hawk caught during migration, who would often be thin and tired from her journey.

Answer: Booze

"Booze" comes from "bouse" or "bowse," a word originally used to describe the drinking behavior of birds of prey, especially when they drank (water, of course!) to excess.

Answer: Gorge

"Gorge" also means "throat," and is often used to refer to the throats of birds (the feathers on a bird's throat, for example, are known as a "gorget.") Because of their extendable crop, falcons can eat a large meal at once, and they do not chew their food!

Answer: Chaperone

The French term meant "little cape" and is related to the word for hat- chapeau.

Answer: Rouse

When a hawk awakens, it will rouse.

Answer: Tercel

A tercel or tiercel originally referred to a three-year-old male falcon, but is now used as a generic term for a male falcon.