# "one fell swoop" the origin of **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 4, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817 "2002-10-04T12:19:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![skiptora\_aol.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@skiptora\_aol.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skiptora_aol.com)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/1 "2002-10-04T12:19:42Z")
I believe your answer to my query "whats the origin of the phrase “one fell swoop” is in error. The term relates to the sport of Falconry in old England. When a Falcon was released he would swoop down a “fell” to capture his prey. “Fell” is defined in the OED as a hill. The term meant that the Falcon was succesful in one flite, one swoop. Skip/ ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/2 "2002-10-04T12:29:03Z")
Is this the query you’re referring to? [What’s the origin of “one fell swoop”](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfellswoop.html). From October 1999? It’s the only one I found, but I suppose it’s possible Cecil or one of the staff members has drafted a revised article that I don’t yet see (I know some people receive the articles before they’re “published”) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/3 "2002-10-04T13:11:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by [skiptora@aol.com](mailto:skiptora@aol.com) \* > **I believe your answer to my query "whats the origin of the phrase “one fell swoop” is in error** If you already knew the answer you wanted, why did you ask the question? > [@](#): > > **"Fell" is defined in the OED as a hill** Today’s dictionary is not necessarily the best tool for discerning the meaning of yesterday’s words, having said that, here’s what [www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) has on the subject: > [@](#): > > fell[sup]2[/sup > adj. > Of an inhumanly cruel nature; fierce: fell hordes. > Capable of destroying; lethal: a fell blow. > Dire; sinister: by some fell chance. > Scots. Sharp and biting. > > Idiom: > at/in one fell swoop > All at once. Your falconry theory; have you any evidence that this is correct, or is that just wild speculation on your part?; do falconers commonly stand atop a hil to release their birds? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/4 "2002-10-04T13:15:52Z")
Oh and is that the _only_ definition of ‘fell’ in the OED? (somehow I doubt it will be). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/5 "2002-10-04T13:18:02Z")
I’m not sure he’s saying the Falconer need be atop a hill, just that the bird follows the undulations of the land in making his attack. …‘Kes’…they don’t make 'em like that anymore…\ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/6 "2002-10-04T13:43:52Z")
IAC taking _fell_ to mean _hill_ in the phrase makes no sense at all; taking it to mean _terrible_ does; consider: it was destroyed in one _hill_ swoop it was destroyed in one _mountain_ swoop is complete nonsense, whereas: it was destroyed in one _terrible_ swoop it was destroyed in one _fierce_ swoop makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/7 "2002-10-04T13:50:08Z")
Not to mention that a falcon typically _stoops_ almost vertically from above the prey, rather than swooping down a hillside. ---
**Author:** ![skiptora\_aol.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@skiptora\_aol.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skiptora_aol.com)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/8 "2002-10-04T16:07:34Z")
well, I wasnt sure and the OED didnt help: so, I lost a 25 cent bet. My grandmother used that phrase as well. More research is needed. A Falcon does swoop down a hill. Not stoop down a hill. People who hunt with Falcons do stand on the top of a hill over open fields; where the hunting is best. There are several other definitions for fell in the OED. I will continuing looking. Thanks for the response(s). Skip/ ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/9 "2002-10-04T18:20:05Z")
Personally, I like _ **one swell foop** _ better. _…::d&r::…_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/10 "2002-10-04T19:17:19Z")
This thread should be in the “Comments on Staff Reports” forum, so I shall move it there. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/11 "2002-10-04T22:51:00Z")
More research is indeed needed; where did you get the idea about the fell=hill (in the context of this phrase)? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by [skiptora@aol.com](mailto:skiptora@aol.com) \* > \*\*A Falcon does swoop down a hill. Not stoop down a hill. \*\* Wrong, it is called a _stoop_ - often a near-vertical dive, sometime a ‘power dive’ (i.e. not just dropping like a stone but deliberately flying downwards) and hills appear to have little to do with it. [here](http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/Student/raptorpage/peregrin.htm): > [@](#): > > Then suddenly, having made its selection, the falcon launches an attack. If the quarry is below it, it has the added advantage of a swift down-angled approach. It may make a shallow stoop or rise higher above the quarry and stoop at tremendous speed and [here](http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/perefalcon.htm): > [@](#): > > Their horizontal flight speed, ranging from 40 to 60 mph, is not particularly fast, but their amazing speed in a stoop has been clocked at over 200 mph. > [@](#): > > \*\*There are several other definitions for fell in the OED \*\*Indeed there are; here’s one of them: fell adjective (poet or rhet) fierce, ruthless, terrible, destructive; **at one ~ swoop** , in a single deadly action [ME, f. OF _fel_ Rom.\*\*fel(l)o FELON] There’s obviously some reason why you are reluctant to accept the dictionary definition; but you haven’t explained what that reason is, please do. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/12 "2002-10-05T00:31:21Z")
**skip**. Since your profile indicates that you are a corporate executive, I hope your decision making powers in your business are sharper than you have demonstrated so far in this thread. AS **Mangetout** asks, “any specific evidence backing up your theory?” Not trying to be mean, but the serious people here provide cites, evidence. All we ask is that you provide some evidence as convincing. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-fell-swoop-the-origin-of/130817/13 "2002-10-05T03:32:58Z")
The fact that a hill was called a fell and that a falcon can swoop down a hill (fell) is interesting, but does not (ipso facto) mean that’s the origin of the phrase “one fell swoop.” - A child is called a kid and a child’s gloves are smaller than an adults, but that’s NOT the origin of “handle with kid gloves.” - A tantrum is called a fit and a violin can be used to play tempestuous music, but that’s NOT the origin of “fit as a fiddle.” I could go on, but…