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tiercel

noun tier·cel \ ˈtir-səl \
variants: or play \ˈtər-səl\
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Definition of tiercel

: a male hawk; especially : a male peregrine falcon

Origin and Etymology of tiercel

Middle English tercel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *tertiolus, from diminutive of Latin tertius third; probably from the fact that the male is about one third smaller than the female

Learn More about tiercel

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tiercel

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