| kite | 1. <ornithology> Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvinae, of which many species are known. They have long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked tail. The European species are Milvus ictinus and Milvus govinda; the sacred or Brahmany kite of India is Haliastur Indus; the American fork-tailed kite is the Nauclerus furcatus. 2. One who is rapacious. "Detested kite, thou liest." (Shak) 3. A light frame of wood or other material covered with paper or cloth, for flying in the air at the end of a string. 4. A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light. 5. <geometry> A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. 6. Fictitious commercial paper used for raising money or to sustain credit, as a check which represents no deposit in bank, or a bill of exchange not sanctioned by sale of goods; an accommodation check or bill. 7. <zoology> Kite falcon, an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite. Origin: OE. Kyte, AS.cta; cf. W. Cud, cut. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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