Forms: 4–6 fauconer, (4 faucounner, 4–5, faukener, -oner), 5 falconar(e, fawconer, -kener(e, 6 faconer, 6–8 faulk(e)ner, 7 faulconer, (fal-, faukner), 5– falconer. [a. OF. fau(l)connier (mod.F. fauconnier), f. fau(l)con FALCON sb.: see -ER2.]
1. One who hunts with falcons, one who follows hawking as a sport.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 468.
| Thise ffauconers upon a fair river, | |
| That with hir haukes han the heron slayn. |
1593. Bacchus, Bountie, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 273. This youth was a feate fellow, and a fine faulkner.
a. 1641. Suckling, Lett. (1696), 93. Faulkners that can but seldom spring right Game, should still have something about them to take them down with.
c. 1720. Prior, Henry & Emma, 109.
| A Falc’ner HENRY is, when EMMA Hawks: | |
| With her of Tarsels, and of Lures he talks. |
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xiv.
| The falc’ner tossed his hawk away, | |
| The hunter left the stag at bay. |
1834. H. M’Murtrie, Cuvier’s The Animal Kingdom, 121. It [the Common Sparrowhawk] is employed, however, by falconers.
fig. 1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 68. Are ye so sodenly disgraded from a Reuerend Prelate and become a malitious and hungry fawconer of titles & sillables?
2. A keeper and trainer of hawks. Also, as an official designation, Grand or † Great Falconer.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 152. Fawkenere [Pynson, fawconer], falconarius.
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 563, in Babees Bk. (1868), 317.
| The chaunceler answeres for hor clothyng, | |
| For ȝomen, faukeners, and hor horsyng. |
1539. Act 31 Hen. VIII., c. 12. Some of his graces fauconers.
1619. Sir R. Boyle, Diary (1886), I. 226. I sent … a caste of marlyns … by his own ffawlconer.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4711/2. The great Faulkner prepared a curious Artificial Firework for their Entertainment.
1797. Bewick, Brit. Birds, I. 24. They [Goshawks] are said to be used by the Emperor of China in his sporting excursions, when he is usually attended by his grand falconer, and a thousand of inferior rank.
1848. Lytton, Harold, VII. v. Behind him came his falconer and bard.
