Ornith. Also 5, 7, 9 sere, 9 sear. [a. F. cire wax, cere:—L. cēra wax; also in med.L. in this sense.]
The naked wax-like membrane at the base of the beak in certain birds, in which the nostrils are pierced. It is supposed to be an organ of touch.
[c. 1230. Fridericus II., De Falconibus, II. (Du Cange), Pars illa corii … ubi sunt nares, quam vocamus ceram.]
1486. Bk. St. Albans, A viij a. The skynne abowt your hawkys leggis & her fete is callyd the Serys of her leggis & here fete.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xx. (1660), 223. The yollow between the Beak and the Eys [of a Hawk], is called the Sere.
1767. G. White, Selborne, 9 Sept. With regard to the falco … its cere and feet were yellow.
1852. Burton, Falconry Indus, viii. 76. A splendid goshawk … with … bright yellow sear.
1875. Blake, Zool., 98. The nostrils are placed at the anterior margin of the cere.
