Tiercel,
n. [OE.
tercel,
tercelet, F.
tiercelet, a dim. of (assumed)
tiercel, or LL.
tertiolus, dim. fr. L.
tertius the third; -- so called, according to some, because every third bird in the nest is a male, or, according to others, because the male is the third part less than female. Cf.
Tercel.].