Kite
Kite (kīt) , noun
[Old English kyte, Anglo-Saxon cȳta; compare Welsh cud, cut.]
1.
(Zoology) Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvina, 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 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.
2.
Figuratively: One who is rapacious.
Detested kite, thou liest.
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.
(Nautical) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.
5.
(Geometry) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. — Henrici
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]
7.
(Zoology) The brill. [Provincial English]
8.
(Nautical) 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.
Collocations (2)
Kite falcon (Zoology) , an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.
Kite , intransitive verb
To raise money by “kites;” as, kiting transactions. See Kite, 6. [Cant]
Kite , noun
The belly. [Provincial English & Scottish]