While fantasies of bondage immediately spring to mind, a finely tailored leather hood is utilized in falconry when a raptor is being trained. Contrary to those who believe it a cruel practice, the hood continues to be useful throughout the bird’s life, covering his head and most importantly his eyes, immediately calming him as he can’t see anything that may stress him or avert his attentions. A raptor’s eyesight is estimated to be ten times better than humans; the hawk is able to spy prey the handler cannot, thus desiring to answer his nature’s call and deviate from the rigorous training. To force the bird to concentrate on the target the handler decrees, he “hoodwinks” the bird by putting the hood on its head.
#eyeswideshut #unitedkingdom #england #falconry #historyofwords (at Ben Long Falconry, Gloucester)