Enough eyass, let's look at tercel

["Philip Veerman" <>]

John,

As far as I know, you are entirely correct. Though the origin of word "tiercel" is not exactly clear. Generally it is believed to mean "third" as in every third chick is a male, I don't know where that idea came from, or the male is one third smaller (or 2/3 the size of) the female. Pretty obscure word use. I have never heard of it being related to a young falcon. I obviously missed or have forgotten a connection made between the car and the bird. Like wise a hag or old hag comes from haggard a newly caught wild adult Peregrine, being one that is difficult to train. Yes the bit on hobby is correct too. Although that was for the European species Falco subbuteo. There are suggestions that our species is not as close to that one, as overall similar appearances suggest.

 

And if we want to get ornithologically etymologically obscure, I reckon the word "columbarium" (a place for storing cremated ashes of deceased people in niches in a commemorative brick wall) comes from pigeon (hence the Columba) and housing (hence the arium, as in aquarium, terrarium) and the early style of dovecotes used to house pigeons, as a wall with cavities.

 

Philip