English language idioms derived from falconry
These English language idioms are derived from falconry:
I've been off sick for the last couple of days, and spending the time wisely have spit it three ways: watching films of Birds of Prey, reading websites about Birds of Prey, and sleeping.
One of the many great things about Falconry is that the written history of the sport is so diverse and there's so much of it. It's been years since I read anything written in the older forms of English so it's been interesting [read challenging] to get back into it. Of course the marvel of English is the way the language constantly evolves to suit the needs of the speaker, taking words from other cultures and languages, and idiom from popular culture. Today there is an financial advice website that advertises itself on TV with an aristocratic Meer Cat who ends every explanation of the company's services with the word "Simples". It's become a popular way to end 'explanations' and 'discussions' on web forums.
Back in the day, when folks flying Falcons was a common sight, these phrases entered the language and are still with us today. There is at least one example missing from the Wikipedia list and I'm guessing a few more? Let me know in the comments when you think of them.
My Addition:
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| Expression | Meaning in falconry | Derived meaning |
|---|---|---|
| in a bate | bating: trying to fly off when tethered | in a panic |
| with bated breath | bated: tethered, unable to fly free | restrained and focussed by expectation |
| fed up | of a hawk, with its crop full and so not wanting to hunt | no longer interested in something |
| haggard | of a hawk, caught from the wild when adult | looking exhausted and unwell, in poor condition; wild or untamed |
| under his/her thumb | of the hawk's leash when secured to the fist | tightly under control |
| wrapped round his/her little finger | of the hawk's leash when secured to the fist | tightly under control |
| rouse | To shake one's feathers | Stir or awaken |
| pounce | Referring to a hawk's claws, later derived to refer to birds springing or swooping to catch prey | Jump forward to seize or attack something |
| to turn tail[ | Fly away | To turn and run away |
I've been off sick for the last couple of days, and spending the time wisely have spit it three ways: watching films of Birds of Prey, reading websites about Birds of Prey, and sleeping.
One of the many great things about Falconry is that the written history of the sport is so diverse and there's so much of it. It's been years since I read anything written in the older forms of English so it's been interesting [read challenging] to get back into it. Of course the marvel of English is the way the language constantly evolves to suit the needs of the speaker, taking words from other cultures and languages, and idiom from popular culture. Today there is an financial advice website that advertises itself on TV with an aristocratic Meer Cat who ends every explanation of the company's services with the word "Simples". It's become a popular way to end 'explanations' and 'discussions' on web forums.
Back in the day, when folks flying Falcons was a common sight, these phrases entered the language and are still with us today. There is at least one example missing from the Wikipedia list and I'm guessing a few more? Let me know in the comments when you think of them.
My Addition:
| Expression To 'Hawk up' |
Meaning in falconry
The sound of a hawk expelling the indigestible parts of a meal | Derived meaning Clearing phlegm from the throat |
|---|
More soon
your pal
SBW
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