Buzz
While I have little expertise in falconry, I can certainly appreciate its charm—it’s almost like having a canine companion that takes to the skies. Although I’m not well-versed in training birds of prey, I’m captivated by the etymology of words, and falconry has given rise to numerous terms and phrases still in use today. Why is this the case? One likely reason is Shakespeare’s frequent incorporation of falconry-related expressions in his plays, such as “haggard,” “hood,” and “bated breath.” Many of his phrases gained widespread popularity. Regardless of the reason, here are 10 words and expressions thought to have their origins in falconry.
3. Fed-up
When a hawk has eaten to its satisfaction (in falconry terms, when its “crop is full”), it loses interest in hunting. Naturally, another way to describe this state is to say it’s “fed-up.” Over time, the phrase has evolved from describing a bird that no longer wishes to hunt to describing a person who no longer wants to engage in a particular activity.
2. Hoodwinked
In falconry, the “hood” is employed during training to calm the raptor and remains useful throughout its “career” (though it’s not a paid job). This leather “hat” covers the bird’s head, particularly its eyes. A raptor’s vision is approximately ten times sharper than a human’s (even more so in my case, as I wear +5 dioptre glasses—I wouldn’t survive two days as a falcon). Consequently, a hawk may spot targets invisible to the handler and become distracted. To ensure the bird focuses on the desired target, the handler “hoodwinks” it by placing the hood over its head. Over time, the term “hoodwinked” has evolved from describing the act of covering a bird’s eyes to metaphorically referring to deceiving or tricking someone.
1. Chaperon
Similar to “codger,” this term’s origin is somewhat uncertain, though there’s compelling circumstantial evidence. The word “chaperon” (often misspelled as “chaperone”) stems from an Old French term meaning “hood,” specifically one used for birds of prey. In English, the object inspired the word “hoodwinked,” meaning deceived or tricked, while the French used the same object to create a term meaning “protector.” Over time, it evolved to refer to someone who safeguards a young person, typically a young woman.
4. Callow
The word “callow” is fascinating; it signifies “inexperienced” while also evoking a sense of youth. It’s most commonly used in the phrase “callow youth” and rarely in contexts like “callow old bloke.” Originally, it meant “bare” or “bald,” which makes its transition to describing youthful inexperience seem puzzling at first. However, in falconry, it refers to a young bird lacking feathers. From there, it’s a natural progression to describe someone lacking experience.
5. Booze
Depending on the source, a “house” or “bows” refers to either a raptor’s drinking vessel or the manner in which the bird drinks. Raptors, given the opportunity, often consume food or drink excessively (leading them to become “fed-up”). While humans would never indulge in such behavior, the term “house” has evolved over time into “booze,” now signifying excessive drinking, particularly of alcohol. It has also been adopted as a generic term for alcoholic beverages.
6. Codger
While not as definitively traced as other terms, a falcon’s perch was historically called a “cadge.” When falconers grew too old for hunting, they were assigned the task of carrying the cadge into the field. These individuals were referred to as “cadgers,” which eventually morphed into “codgers.” The term “codger” implies wisdom, suggesting that these former falconers offered advice to younger hunters (or, as some might say, “were a pain in the neck”). Another theory links “cadger”—meaning someone who seeks freebies—to this origin, as the original cadgers were unpaid and relied on tips for income.
7. Haggard
A “haggard” refers to a falcon captured in the wild as an adult. These birds were often taken at the end of their migration, appearing thin and worn out after their arduous journey. Over time, the term has shifted to describe someone who looks exhausted and unkempt. It’s also linked to the word “hag,” which denotes a disheveled woman.
An unrelated fun fact: Birds avoid jet lag during migration because they travel north and south, not east or west.
10. Under His Thumb
Also known as “wrapped around his little finger.” Two expressions for the price of one! Falcons are equipped with a leash called a “jess” to prevent them from flying off. When the bird perches on the falconer’s arm, the handler secures part of the jess “under his thumb” or “wraps it around his little finger” to maintain control over the bird.
9. Rouse
Originating from an Old French term describing hawks shaking their feathers (similar to the phrase “shake a tail feather,” still used to urge someone to wake up), “rouse” has evolved from birds fluffing their feathers to describing people waking up or, more frustratingly, being awakened by someone else.
8. Gorge
Not referring to the “Grand Canyon” sense, but rather to overeating; “gorge” originally meant “throat” (which explains how a deep valley could be called a “gorge”). Specifically, it came to describe a bird’s throat—the feathers in this area are known as a “gorget,” which also inspired the name for throat armor.
Birds possess an expandable crop (a part of their digestive system that can stretch to store food), allowing them to appear as though they’ve consumed a massive meal at once. In reality, they’re saving some food for later. This behavior led to the term “gorge” being associated with overeating. Similarly, the phrase “wolfing down food” stems from wolves’ habit of eating quickly.
+ With Bated Breath
The term “bated” is one of those words that almost exclusively appears in the phrase “with bated breath.” It first made its appearance in *The Merchant of Venice*:
Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key, With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this; ‘Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; You spurn’d me such a day; another time You call’d me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys’?
But what does it mean? In falconry, a hawk that is tethered is referred to as “bated,” a contraction of “abated,” meaning “restrained.” Thus, to listen with bated breath means to listen while holding or restraining your breath.
Occasionally, the phrase is mistakenly written as “baited breath” (reportedly even in *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*), which, of course, makes little to no sense.
