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.
Glede n. Zool. The common European kite (Milvus ictinus). This name is also sometimes applied to the buzzard. [Written also glead, gled, gleed, glade, and glide.]