Bŭz'zard1, n.
n. [Fr. buzard, busard, buysart, buze, buse, from Lat. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk, Pr. buzac, buzart, It. bozzago, bozzagro, buzzagro, Ger. buszhart, buszaar, D. buizert.] 1. (Ornith.) A bird of prey, of the Falcon family, and genus Buteo. ☞ The B. vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are B. borealis and B. lineatus) are usually called hen-hawks. The honey-buzzard of Europe (Pernis apivorus) feeds on bees, insects, and reptiles. The moor-buzzard of Europe (Circus eruginosus) has some of the characters of the owls. 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.