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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 9, 1999
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varvel [n. VAR-vul]
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Until the end of the nineteenth century, people who harbored hunting
birds (falconers) used flat, silver or brass rings called varvels to
identify their birds. Engraved with the owner's coat of arms or
address, the varvel hung at the end of leather straps attached to the
bird's legs.
Varvels are no longer used because they are heavy and can become
caught in vegetation. Today, birds are identified by markings on
small bells, or even by the radio transmissions of tiny electronic
beacons.
The art of falconry has generated many interesting words, including
these:
eyas: a young falcon, still untrained
bewits: small leather straps that fasten a bell to the legs
cadge: a portable perch for several birds
creance: a long line used to train the bird to return
feak: to clean the beak by scrubbing it against the perch
jesses: leather straps attached to the bird's legs
A "conversation thread" about varvels from a falconry discussion
group:
http://www.theriver.com/Public/raptor/lstmsg97/856450565.arc.html
http://www.theriver.com/Public/raptor/lstmsg97/856545623.arc.html
More about falconry:
http://www.USFalconry.org/
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