n. [ OE. kyte, AS. c&ymacr_;ta; cf. W. cud, cut. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Fig.: One who is rapacious. [ 1913 Webster ] Detested kite, thou liest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Naut.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Geom.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry. Henrici. [ 1913 Webster ] 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 ] [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Zool.) The brill. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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