v. [UN-2 4.] trans. To divest (spec. a hawk) of a hood or similar covering. Also absol.
(a) 1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 79. At the ende of three dayes you may unhood hir and feede hir unhooded.
1652. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xviii. 488. Like Hawks when they are first unhooded, and newly restored to the light.
1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Mar-all, V. iii. He’s an ill Falconer that will unhood before the quarry be in sight.
1742. Somerville, Field Sports, 10. Falcner, take care,… And slily stalk; unhood thy Falcon bold.
1852. R. F. Burton, Falconry Valley Indus, vi. 65. The falconer unhoods her, places her upon the perch.
(b) 1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 221. Perceiving after that he was unhooded that he served as a stalion to his own dam.
1608. Sylvester, Du Bartas, Job Triumphant, 615. I will not hide … [Leviathan’s] Strength, nor seemly Symmetries. Who shall unhood him?
1629. Massinger, Picture, III. v. Enter servants with Mathias … blindfolded. Acanthe.… I’ll anon unhood him.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xii. [In] one of the lonely aisles … he unhooded the lamp.
1853. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. x. 491. Among all that sea of heads, there is not one but is bared and unhooded.
1887. Browning, Parleyings, Apollo & Fates, 121. Unhook wings, unhood brows! Dost hearken?
transf. 1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. 334. Some people … who tooke pleasure to vnhood the end of their yard, and to cut off the fore-skin.
b. fig. or in fig. context.
1648. Boyle, Seraph. Love (1660), 11. As it has hitherto been my not unprosperous task to unhood your soul, I shall now … shew her game to fly at.
c. 1681. Hickeringill, Trimmer, Wks. 1716, I. 356. I am forc’d to bring him to light, and unhood him, sometimes by some (otherwise unwelcome) Periphrasis.
1824. New Monthly Mag., X. 306. Thou unhood’st the stars, Shew’st their bright eyes.
1848. Boker, Calaynos, III. iii.
| They two can put their restless heads together, | |
| Unhood their thoughts at every whim that flies, | |
| And chase the quarry till they bring it down. |
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., xii. Tom Faggus himself was e quarry for the law, if ever it should be unhooded.
