jess
/dʒɛs
/Falconry
noun (usually jesses)
A short leather strap fastened round each leg of a hawk, usually also having a ring or swivel to which a leash may be attached.It has leather jesses on its legs, which are used by falconers and people who take the birds out to hunt....
- Birds were tethered by jesses to Astroturf-covered perches.
- She rarely dreamed, but she did that night, fretful visions of tight-held jesses and the clipping of wings.
verb [with object]
Put jesses on (a hawk).
Origin
Middle English: from Old French ges, based on Latin jactus 'a throw', from jacere 'to throw'.