Interesting Facts About Falconry
Brigadier Johnny Rickett
Did you know that various expressions we use every day come from the ancient art of falconry?
1. Fed up.
When a raptor is fed up he will do absolutely nothing at all. You can chuck a 10 steak at him and he couldn't care less - he has been fed and he won't do anything.
2. Larking about.
In medieval times the ladies of the court used to fly merlins at quarry and the quarry was the songbird, the lark - hence the expression!
3. Hoodwinked.
You put the hood on the falcon to keep it calm when travelling on its perch, otherwise it would get frantic and would be all over the place.
4. Cadging a lift.
The cadge is a mobile platform you carry a number of raptors on when going out hunting. Hence the expression!
5. Boozing.
When a bird of prey drinks it is unusual as it should obtain enough liquid from the raw meat it consumes. Boozing is therefore overdoing it!
6. Towering above.
When a bird of prey is riding the wind it is known as towering above if it is above you.
7. End of my tether.
All raptors on the weathering ground of a Falconry Centre are tethered to prevent them from attacking each other, hence this expression!