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.
Pa·ri·ah n.
1. One of an aboriginal people of Southern India, regarded by the four castes of the Hindus as of very low grade. They are usually the serfs of the Sudra agriculturalists. See Caste.
2. An outcast; one despised by society.
Pariah dog Zool., a mongrel race of half-wild dogs which act as scavengers in Oriental cities.
Pariah kite Zool., a species of kite (Milvus govinda) which acts as a scavenger in India.
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