jess
nounverbnounadverbcommon in dialogue
- //d͡ʒɛs//
A short strap fastened around the leg of a bird used in falconry, to which a leash may be fastened.
noun
- 1
A short strap fastened around the leg of a bird used in falconry, to which a leash may be fastened.
I am that cedar; shake me not too much; And you the eagles; soar ye ne’er so high, I have the jesses that will pull you down;
[…] If I do prove her haggard, Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, I’ld whistle her off and let her down the wind, To pray at fortune.
1686, Richard Blome, The Gentlemans Recreation, Part 2, Chapter 24 “Certain Terms of Art used in Falconry, with an Explanation thereof, Alphabetically set down,” p. 62, Jesses are the short straps of Leather that are fastned to her Legs, and so to the Lease by the Varvils.
If your hawk is bad-weathered, that is, will not fit on your fist when the wind blows, but hales, and beats, and hangs by the jeſſes, ſhe has an ill habit of the worſt kind.
Etymology
From Middle English ges, from Middle French gies, from the plural of jet (“throw”), from Vulgar Latin *iectus, jectus < iactus (“a throwing”), or from jeter (“to throw”), itself from Latin iactare.
verb
- 1
To fasten a strap around the leg of a hawk.
noun
- 1
Variant of jetAlternative form of jet (“the mineral”).
- 2
Variant of jetAlternative form of jet (“the color”).
Etymology
See jet (etymology 2).
adverb
- 1
Variant of justPronunciation spelling of just.
Etymology
See just.
Forms
- plural
- jesses
- past tense
- jessed
- past participle
- jessed
- present participle
- jessing
- third person singular
- jesses
jess · A short strap fastened around the leg of a bird used in falconry, to which a leash may be fastened.
Jess · A diminutive of the male given name Jesse.Jesse · The son of Obed and the father of king David.Jessica · A female given name from Hebrew.