kestrel

/ˈkɛstɹəl/

Etymology

From Middle English castrel (“staniel, bird of prey”), from Middle French cresserelle, crecerelle (“bird of prey”), usually assumed to be from crecelle (“rattle, wooden reel”) (modern crécelle), of obscure origin. Cognates possibly include: Medieval Latin clisterella f, French crécerelle f and cristel m, Neapolitan castariello m and crestariello m, all sharing the same meaning. Derivation from the assumed Vulgar Latin *crepicella, *crepitacillum, a diminutive of crepitāculum, from crepitāre (“to crackle”) is difficult to explain from a morphological point of view. Instead, possibly from a root *krek-, *krak- (“to crack, rattle, creak, emit a bird cry”), from Middle Dutch crāken (“to creak, crack”), from Old Dutch *krakōn (“to crack, creak, emit a cry”), from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn (“t

kestrel means Any of various small falcons of the genus Falco that hover while hunting. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.

Why this word is great

KESTREL — [Noun] A small falcon of the genus Falco, distinguished by its singular ability to hover in place against the wind while hunting. From Middle English castrel, from Middle French cresserelle, crecerelle, likely from a root imitative of a rattling or cracking sound. Unlike “falcon” (a broad genus encompassing swift stoopers like peregrines) or “hawk” (a separate family of birds that kill by grip, not a notched beak), the kestrel is the specialist of the suspended moment. It is the anchored tremor over a summer field, the pinpoint silhouette against a scudding cloud, the poised hunger quivering on an invisible column of air—a feathered fulcrum balancing patience and violence, a solitary question mark drawn in the sky, awaiting its answer.

noun

Any of various small falcons of the genus Falco that hover while hunting.“When she was musing she was a kestrel, which hangs in the air by an invisible motion of its wings.”
A common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus).