- Milvus ictinus
- Kite Kite (k[imac]t), n. [OE. kyte, AS. c[=y]ta; cf. W. cud,
cut.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any raptorial bird of the subfamily
{Milvin[ae]}, of which many species are known. They have
long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked
tail.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The European species are {Milvus ictinus} and {Milvus migrans}; the pariah kite of India is {Milvus govinda}; the sacred or Brahmany kite of India is {Haliastur Indus}; the American fork-tailed kite is the {Nauclerus furcatus}. [1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: One who is rapacious. [1913 Webster]
Detested kite, thou liest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
4. (Naut.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light. [1913 Webster]
5. (Geom.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. --Henrici. [1913 Webster]
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. [Cant] [1913 Webster]
7. (Zo["o]l.) The brill. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]
8. (Naut.) A form of drag to be towed under water at any depth up to about forty fathoms, which on striking bottom is upset and rises to the surface; -- called also {sentry}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Flying kites}. (Naut.) See under {Flying}.
{Kite falcon} (Zo["o]l.), an African falcon of the genus {Avicida}, having some resemblance to a kite. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
