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Jess vs Fess - What's the difference?

jess | fess |

As nouns the difference between jess and fess

is that jess is (falconry) a short strap fastened around the leg of a bird used in falconry, to which a leash may be fastened or jess can be a compact coal-like, velvet-black mineral, with a polish making it fit for use in jewelry while fess is (heraldiccharge) a horizontal band across the middle of the shield.

As verbs the difference between jess and fess

is that jess is (falconry) to fasten a strap around the leg of a hawk while fess is to confess; to admit.

jess

English

Proper noun

(en proper noun)
  • A short form of the male given name Jesse.
  • A short form of the female given name Jessica.
  • A short form of the female given name Jessamy.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 1967 , first = Barbara , last = Sleigh , authorlink = Barbara Sleigh , title = (Jessamy) , edition = 1993 , location = Sevenoaks, Kent , publisher=Bloomsbury , isbn = 0 340 19547 9 , page = 58 , url = , passage = ‘Now then Kit,’ said Mr Parkinson, ‘look sharp! Help Jess' up. Where has she got to?’ ‘Here I am!’ said ' Jessamy breathlessly as “helped” rather to vigorously from behind by Kit, she arrived on her knees on the floor of the dog cart. }}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 1967 , first = Barbara , last = Sleigh , authorlink = Barbara Sleigh , title = (Jessamy) , edition = 1993 , location = Sevenoaks, Kent , publisher=Bloomsbury , isbn = 0 340 19547 9 , page = 127 , url = , passage = ‘It’s almost as if we’ve gone silly with happiness,’ said Marcus two days later. ‘Everyone in the house going round grinning like a lot of Cheshire Cats! The family I mean.’ ‘And Jess',’ said Kitto quickly. ‘Oh well, '''Jess''' is as good as family,’ said Fanny comfortably. ' Jessamy said nothing, but she looked up quickly and her smile would have rivalled any Cheshire Cat. }} English diminutives of male given names English diminutives of female given names

    fess

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (confess), by shortening

    Verb

    (es)
  • To confess; to admit.
    • Derived terms
    * fess up English clippings

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Alternative forms

    * fesse

    Noun

    (es)
  • (heraldiccharge) A horizontal band across the middle of the shield.
  • * 1892 , Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor’, Norton 2005 p.294:
    • Lord Robert Walsingham de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral—Hum! Arms: Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable.
  • * 2009 , Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall , Fourth Estate 2010, p. 420:
    • The space where the arms of Wolsey used to be is being repainted with his own newly granted arms: azure, on a fess between three lions rampant or, a rose gules, barbed vert, between two Cornish choughs proper .