Category:Buzzard

Buz"zard, n.Etym: [O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus Buteo and related genera.

Note: The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are B. borealis, B. Pennsylvanicus, and B. lineatus) are usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis apivorus) feeds on bees and their larvæ, with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is Circus æruginosus. See Turkey buzzard, and Carrion buzzard. Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. See Fishhawk.

2. A blockhead; a dunce. It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard. Goldsmith.

Buzzard Buz"zard, a.

Defn: Senseless; stupid. [R.& Obs.] Milton.