Falconry. Also 5 warb(b)el(l, warbul, 6 warbile. [Of obscure origin; perh. a. Du. wervelen to turn round (= OE. *hwierflian, whence hwierflung vbl. sb. For the change of consonant cf. nable obs. and dial. var. NAVEL.] trans. To cross (the wings) together over the back after ‘rousing’ and ‘mantling.’ Also absol. Hence Warbling vbl. sb.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Hawking, a vj b. Whan she hath mantilled hir and bryngith booth her wynges to geider ouer hir backe ye shall say yowre hawke warbelleth hir wynges. Ibid., c viii b. She warbbelyth when she drawith booth her wyngys ouer the myddys of her backe.
1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 134. Stroke on hir wings that shee [your Sparhawke] may mantle and warble.
c. 1575. Perf. Bk. Kepinge Sparhawkes (1886), 10. Yf good, let her styre, rouse, mantle, or warbile a while.
1632. Guillim’s Displ. Heraldry, III. xx. (ed. 2), 228. Which action you shall terme, the warbling of her wings.
1852. R. F. Burton, Falconry Valley Indus, vi. 65, foot-n. Rousing themselves, ‘mantling’ and ‘warbling’ (crossing the wings over the back, after stretching the legs), as though they had escaped a prison.
