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From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Kite n.
 1. Zool. 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 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. 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. A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.
 5. Geom. 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. [Cant]
 7. Zool. The brill. [Prov. Eng.]
 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.
 Flying kites. Naut. See under Flying.
 Kite falcon Zool., an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.