Bald a.
 1. Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or top, as of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a bald head; a bald oak.
    On the bald top of an eminence.   --Wordsworth.
 2. Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal.
    In the preface to his own bald translation.   --Dryden.
 3. Undisguised. “ Bald egotism.”
 4. Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [Obs.]
 5. Bot. Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat.
 6. Zool. (a) Destitute of the natural covering. (b) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced.
 Bald buzzard Zool., the fishhawk or osprey.
 Bald coot Zool., a name of the European coot (Fulica atra), alluding to the bare patch on the front of the head.

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 Buz·zard n.
 1. Zool. 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 Buteo borealis, Buteo Pennsylvanicus, and Buteo 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.


 Fish·hawk n. Zool. The osprey (Pandion haliaëtus), found both in Europe and America; -- so called because it plunges into the water and seizes fishes in its talons. Called also fishing eagle, and bald buzzard.

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