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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Kite

Kite, n.

noun

n. [A-S. cita, cyta, W. cud, cut.]

  1. (Ornith.) A rapacious bird of the hawk kind, distinguished from hawks and falcons by having a forked tail and by the length of its wings. The common kite of Europe is Milvus ictinus; that of America, Ictinia Mississippiensis. It is remarkable for gliding through the air without rapidly or frequently moving its wings; — hence called glide.
  2. One who is rapacious. Shak.
  3. A light frame of wood covered with paper, for flying in the air, to amuse boys.
  4. Fictitious commercial paper designed to deceive and delude.
  5. (Ichth.) A fish of the genus Rhombus (R. vulgaris); — called also brill.
An engraved illustration of a kite perched on a branch.
Kite (Milvus ictinus).

Kīte, n.

noun

n. [Scot. kyte, A-S. quidh, cwid, Icel. qviðr, O. H. Ger. quiti, Goth. qvithus. Cf. KIDNEY.] The belly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Kite, v. i.

verbintransitive

[Literally, to fly a kite.] To raise money, or sustain one's credit, by the use of mercantile paper which is fictitious; as, kiting transactions.