Forms: 4–5 ters-, terce-, terse-, tarse-, 4–6 tarce-, 6 tierse-, -let (-lett): 4– tercelet, 6– tiercelet. [a. AF. tercelet, = F. tiercelet (dim. of OF. tercel, TERCEL), whence later Eng.] = prec.
[1363. Rolls of Parlt., II. 282/2. Quiconque persone qui troeve Faukoun, Tercelet,… ou autre Faucoun.]
c. 1381. Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 529. Foulis of lauyne Han chosyn … The terselet of the facoun.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn Sacret, the tiercelet of a Saker.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 711. The Faulcon, as all other birds of prey, hath her Tiercelet, and they are called of the Latines Pomiliones.
1720. Mrs. Manley, Power of Love (1741), 249. He made bold to present his Lordship with a very excellent Tercelet of a Faulcon.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, VI. i. Perched on his wonted eyrie high, Sleep sealed the tercelet’s wearied eye.
1852. R. F. Burton, Falconry Valley Indus, ii. 13. The tiercelet or male, is, as usual, much smaller than the female.
