GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Kite (kīt), n. [OE. kyte, AS. cȳta; cf. W. cud, cut.]
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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.
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☞ 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.
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2. Fig.: One who is rapacious.
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Detested kite, thou liest. Shak.
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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.
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4. (Naut.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.
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5. (Geom.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. Henrici.
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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]
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7. (Zool.) The brill. [Prov. Eng.]
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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.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Flying kites. (Naut.) See under Flying. -- Kite falcon (Zool.), an African falcon of the genus Avicida, having some resemblance to a kite.
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Kite, v. i. To raise money by “kites;” as, “kiting transactions. See Kite, 6”. [Cant]
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Kite, n. The belly. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
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