jess
/dʒɛs/
verb
- To put a jess on a hawk or falcon.
- He jessed the peregrine before the training session.
- The falconer learned how to jess the bird properly.
- They jess the young hawks as part of their early handling.
noun
- A short strap fastened around the leg of a hawk or falcon, used to tether the bird to a perch or to the falconer's glove.
- The falconer attached the jess to the hawk's leg before the hunt.
- The young eagle tugged at its jess, eager to fly.
- She checked the leather jess for wear before taking the bird out.