Etymology Dictionary

JESSES,  straps of leather or silk, with which hawks were tied by the legs.  (F.,—L.)   In Shak. Oth. iii. 3. 261.   'That like an hauke, which feeling herselfe freed From bels and jesses which did let her flight;' Spenser, F. Q. vi. 4. 19.   So called from their use in letting the hawk fly.   A corruption of O.F. jects or gects.   'Gect, a cast or throw, as at dice; les jects ďun oyseau, a hawkes Jesses;' Cot.—O.F. jecter, 'to cast, hurl;' id.—Lat. iactare, to hurl, throw, frequentative of iacĕre, to throw.   See Jet (1).   ¶ Really a double plural.   Jess = O.F. jects (jets) is really a plural form; but this not being perceived, -es was added.   A similar double plural occurs in sixpences (= six-pen-s-es), prov. E. nesses, for nests-es, nests. [†]

ADDENDA

We actually find both gesse and gesses used as pl. forms in the Book of St. Albans, fol. b 5, back.   'Gesses for a hauke, getz;' Palsgrave.   Hence M.E. gesse = F. jets, as I supposed; and jesses is a double plural.