fauconnerie

Forms

fauconnerie f (plural fauconneries)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French faucon + -erie; the TLFi also allows a borrowing from Medieval Latin falconaria, recorded from 1199.^{[2][1][3][4][5]} Faucon is from Late Latin falcō (“falcon”), a Late Latin word of the 4th century, probably derived from falx (“sickle”) after the bird's hooked claws.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Roi Modus (about 1354) uses it for the art of training falcons and other birds of prey for hunting, and for hawking itself.^[8][4][9] The TLFi's first record, with the same sense, is from 1361, in an archive document of the Nord.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Besides the art and the hunt with birds of prey, the word came to name the whole hunting train of falconers, birds, horses and dogs;^[2][8][10] Furetière records this in 1690.^[2][8][10] It also names the mews or aviary where the falcons are kept and trained.^[2][11] Hunters distinguish fauconnerie de haut vol, with falcons and gyrfalcons, from fauconnerie de bas vol, with goshawks and sparrowhawks.^[11]

English falconry (1570s) was borrowed from the French word.^[12]

Timeline

• 1199 – Medieval Latin falconaria is recorded.^[2]
• c. 1354 – The Roi Modus uses fauconnerie.^[8][4]
• 1361 – It appears in an archive document of the Nord.^[2]
• 1570s – English borrows it as falconry.^[12]
• 1690 – Furetière records it for the whole hunting train.^[2][8]

Meanings

Noun

1. falconry, the art of raising and training falcons and other birds of prey.^[11][2][10]
2. Hunting with birds of prey, hawking: fauconnerie de haut vol, fauconnerie de bas vol.^[11][10]
3. A place where falcons are kept and trained, a mews; also the staff, birds, horses and dogs of a hawking party.^[11][2][10]

Related words

• faucon
• fauconnier
• fauconneau
• gerfaut
• Medieval Latin falconaria
• English falconry

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 381b
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
8. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
10. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
11. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
12. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com