noun
falconer
FAL-kuh-ner/ˈfælkənər/
A person who trains or hunts with birds of prey.
The falconer offers a reward as the bird lands on his gloved hand.
Etymology
The bird name and person-forming ending originally named someone who hunted with falcons. The meaning expanded to include someone who keeps and trains hawks.
In context
my name is Arthur my nieces I'm a falconer in Massachusetts I hunt with my red tail hawk
More examples
- A falconer releases her hawk to hunt rabbits.
- The owl lands on the falconer's thick glove.
- Experienced falconers teach beginners how to handle birds safely.
Forms
falconer · falconers
falconry noun — Hunting with trained birds of prey.
Similar words
- trainer
- Trains people or animals, not specifically birds of prey.
- hunter
- Pursues wild animals but does not necessarily use trained birds.