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Glite Dictionary
tercel

tercel

9.9
A male hawk such as a peregrine or gyrfalcon
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜrsl/
  • Archaic
: tercel
  • The tercel is known for its agility and speed, making it a formidable predator in the skies.

Examples

  • You just need to come home and buy your Tercel back.

    Austenland (2013)

  • I'm thinking of getting a Tercel.

    10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

  • Her brothers are named Tercel and Seville.

    The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat (2024)

  • The most obvious answer is that a pair of teenagers got it on in the back seat of a 1999 Toyota Tercel.

    Blog text (20)

  • I had my kidney removed in the backseat of a Toyota Tercel - and you were faking? -

    Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

  • How about you make a sound come out of your mouth that is as loud as two kilograms of C-4 explosives stuck to the driver's side door of a 1999 Toyota Tercel?

    Dolan's Cadillac (2009)

  • The tercel soared gracefully above the valley, showcasing its remarkable hunting skills.

  • During the birdwatching tour, I spotted a handsome tercel perched on a branch, scanning the area for prey.

Synonyms

tiercel
vstercel
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A male hawk, usually a peregrine or gyrfalcon

is the same term but spelled in a different way
tercelet
vstercel
  • Archaic
9.9

A male hawk, especially a peregrine or gyrfalcon

is the same term but uses the shorter modern spelling

Surface Forms

tercel singular
tercels plural

Etymology

Tercel comes from an old word tertius, which means 'third'. Male falcons were often about one third smaller than females, so a male was thought of as the 'third', and that is why tercel now means a male hawk.