Category:Kite

Kite, n. Etym: [OE. kyte, AS.c; cf. W. cud, cut.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvinæ, of which many species are known. They have long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked tail.

Note: The European species are Milvus ictinus and M. govinda; the sacred or Brahmany kite of India is Haliastur Indus; the American fork-tailed kite is the Nauclerus furcatus.

2. Fig. : 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. (Naut.)

Defn: A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.

5. (Geom.)

Defn: 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. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The brill. [Prov. Eng. ] Flying kites. (Naut.) See under Flying. -- Kite falcon (Zoöl.), an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.

kite Kite, v. i.

Defn: To raise money by "kites;" as, kiting transactions. See Kite, 6. [Cant]

kite Kite, n.

Defn: The belly. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Kite - An unclean and keen-sighted bird of prey (Leviticus 11:14; Deuteronomy 14:13). The Hebrew word used, 'ayet, is rendered "vulture" in Job 28:7 in Authorized Version, "falcon" in Revised Version. It is probably the red kite (Milvus regalis), a bird of piercing sight and of soaring habits found all over Palestine.